Alvaston Junior Academy

About Alvaston Junior Academy

Alvaston Junior Academy doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, so the most direct signal of how families feel about the school is its oversubscription picture. The school has a capacity of 360 and currently enrols 335 pupils, meaning it is operating at roughly 93% of capacity. That leaves some spare places, which suggests it isn't currently oversubscribed in the way many local primary schools are. For context, the nearest outstanding-rated school, Wyndham Spencer Academy, is less than a kilometre away, so some families in the area may be choosing that alternative. Still, with 40% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Alvaston serves a community with above-average disadvantage, and a full roll would indicate it remains a key local option for many families in the Derby area.

Academically, the school's most recent KS2 results place it in the bottom half of Derby primary schools. Just 46% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 55%. That gap is significant, though individual subjects tell a slightly more nuanced story: 65% met the expected standard in both reading and writing, and 57% in maths. At the higher standard, only 4% achieved the combined benchmark, with 21% reaching that level in reading and 14% in maths. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Good, but quality of education, personal development and leadership all requiring improvement. That is a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2016.

The school does offer a decent range of facilities for a junior school, including playing fields, a gymnasium, an outdoor playground, a sensory room and even a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, dance, tennis and athletics, while clubs include coding, art, gardening and film club. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. That is a broad SEND offer for a school of this size. Given its Requires Improvement rating and below-average results, Alvaston Junior Academy is likely to suit families who live very locally and value the convenience of a neighbourhood school, particularly those whose children may benefit from the SEND support on offer. Families prioritising strong academic outcomes or an outstanding Ofsted rating will probably look at schools like Wyndham Spencer Academy, less than a kilometre away.

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