It opened in 1952, with 300 pupils, and was named after Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby.

[citation needed] In 2016 the school was judged Inadequate by Ofsted and therefore became an academy in 2017.

[4][5] The school's academy sponsor is Southport Learning Trust.

[6] The school was rated Good following an Ofsted inspection in February 2020.

[7] This Merseyside school or sixth form college related article is a stub.