Alvaston Infant and Nursery School
126%
Capacity
340
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Alvaston Infant and Nursery School
Alvaston Infant and Nursery School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 157 applications for just 82 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.91. All 82 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that for those who put it top of their list, the school is a realistic option. The school has a nursery provision for children from age three, and its total pupil roll of 340 exceeds its official capacity of 270, which is a further sign of demand. The headteacher is Molly Peach, and the school is a mixed, non-religious state primary in Derby, catering for children up to age seven.
Academically, the school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection took place in 2017, when it was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed that the school remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires improvement across the board. The early years provision has moved from Requires improvement to Good. For context, only five of the 74 primary schools in Derby are rated Outstanding, and the nearest Outstanding school, Wyndham Spencer Academy, is 0.9 km away. The local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in Key Stage 2 is 55 per cent, though as an infant school Alvaston does not have its own KS2 results to compare.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, art studios, gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, netball, gymnastics, rounders and dance, while clubs range from coding and chess to eco club and gardening. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for moderate learning difficulty, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health support, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 38.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-subscribed local infant and nursery option with strong early years provision and a clear upward trajectory in its Ofsted ratings.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Elvaston Lane, Derby, Derby, DE24 0PU |
| Headteacher | Molly Peach |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 340 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.9% |
| School Capacity | 340 / 270 (126% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Nov 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed82
157
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
82 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.0%
- Mixed13.6%
- Asian6.0%
- White (other)5.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alvaston Infant and Nursery School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Elvaston Lane, Derby
Derby, DE24 0PU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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