Chinley Primary School

About Chinley Primary School

Chinley Primary School has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent ungraded inspection in June 2023, a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2012, when it was judged to require improvement. The school’s leadership and management are also rated Good. On the academic front, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2: 71% of pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits comfortably above the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%, placing Chinley 7th out of 34 primary schools in the High Peak area. Within the East Midlands region, it ranks 341st out of 1,353 schools, and nationally it sits in the 28th percentile. This suggests a solid, above-average performance for a state primary in this part of the country.

Digging into the individual subject scores, the school’s reading and maths average scaled scores both sit at 105, which is slightly above the national benchmark of 100. In reading, 79% of pupils met the expected standard and 21% reached the higher standard; in maths, 76% met the expected standard and 26% achieved the higher level. Writing saw 85% of pupils reach the expected standard, though only 12% hit the higher threshold. The combined higher standard for all three subjects was 12%. These results paint a picture of a school where most children are meeting expectations, with a smaller but notable group excelling. The school does not have a sixth form, as it caters for children aged 3 to 11, and its nursery provision means families can start their child here from age three.

Chinley is a popular school, oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake: it received 69 applications for 30 places, with 31 first-preference applications and a 2.3 oversubscription ratio. The school has 234 pupils on roll against a capacity of 222, so it is running slightly over its official number. Facilities include music rooms, a gymnasium, a dining hall and a sensory room, and the school offers a range of sports such as tennis, football, athletics, netball, dance and cross country. Clubs include science, book and film clubs. The school’s SEND provisions are broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 16.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. It would suit families in the High Peak area looking for a well-regarded primary with strong academic outcomes and a good range of enrichment activities.

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