Ambergate Primary School

About Ambergate Primary School

Ambergate Primary School’s headline metrics sit comfortably above the Derbyshire local authority average for primary schools, which stands at 59 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. At Ambergate, that figure is 69 per cent — a ten-point gap that places the school in the top half of its local authority, ranked 15th out of 43 schools in Amber Valley. The school also outperforms the LA average on higher attainment: 15 per cent of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, while in reading and writing individually, 31 per cent reached that level. Reading scores are particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 107, and maths sits at 102. The school’s overall ranking places it in the top 35 per cent nationally, and within the East Midlands it sits in the top 30 per cent of primary schools. For a small village primary with just 85 pupils, these results suggest a consistent focus on core academic skills.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2012, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management and early years provision also judged Good. A subsequent ungraded inspection in March 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2, 77 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in both reading and writing, and 69 per cent did so in maths. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the attainment figures show a school where most children are meeting or exceeding national expectations. The school’s ranking score of 69, based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, places it in the top 50 per cent of schools nationally. With no official sixth form and a primary-only intake, the focus is squarely on the 4–11 age range.

Ambergate is a small, oversubscribed school — for the 2025/26 intake, it received 17 applications for just 8 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.13. All 8 first-preference applicants were offered a place. The school offers a range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, library and playing fields, and runs clubs in drama, choir and chess. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming, rounders, cross country and netball. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. With only 8.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively affluent catchment. This is a school that will suit families looking for a strong academic record in a small, community-focused setting, though competition for places is high.

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