Ashbourne Primary School

About Ashbourne Primary School

Ashbourne Primary School is a state primary in the Derbyshire Dales that currently educates 218 pupils against a total capacity of 315, meaning it has room to grow but is already a popular choice locally. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 35.1%, a figure that sits well above the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 56 applications for just 31 places, with all 31 first-preference applicants receiving an offer. That oversubscription ratio of 1.81 to one confirms that families in the area are actively choosing Ashbourne over other options. The school is non-denominational, co-educational, and serves children from age three through to eleven, with nursery provision available on site.

Academically, Ashbourne Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections, including the graded inspection in January 2022. The inspection report awarded Good marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. While the school’s most recent Key Stage 2 results are not provided in the data, the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Derbyshire is 59, which gives a useful benchmark for parents to compare against when results are published. The school does not have a sixth form, as is typical for a primary, and its previous inspection in 2012 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, indicating consistent performance over time. With no outstanding schools in the immediate peer group, Ashbourne’s Good rating places it among the solid, reliable options in the area.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, playing fields, sports hall, ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, gymnastics, athletics, cricket, swimming, netball, and dance, while extracurricular clubs extend to gardening, art, drama, film, book club, and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscribed status, parents should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference to maximise their chance of a place. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded, inclusive primary with a strong community feel and a broad offering beyond the classroom, particularly those who value a non-religious setting and on-site nursery provision.

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