Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy

About Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy

Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy in Amber Valley is a primary school that is clearly in demand. With 223 pupils on roll against a capacity of 240, it is not yet full, but the admissions data for 2025/26 tells a different story: the school received 42 applications for just 26 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.62 applicants per place. All 26 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, which suggests that families who put it top of their list are very likely to get in, but competition for remaining places is real. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.2%, which is slightly below the national average for primary schools and indicates a relatively mixed intake. As a Roman Catholic voluntary academy, the school has a religious character that will appeal to families seeking a faith-based education, though the data does not specify any faith-based admissions criteria.

Academically, Christ the King performs strongly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 59%. The school ranks second out of 43 primary schools in Amber Valley on this metric, placing it in the top 5% nationally. Average scores in reading (108) and maths (109) are both above the national benchmark of 100, and the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in maths (48%) and reading (42%) is notably high. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022, the school retained its Good rating across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The previous inspection in 2015 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a chapel, sensory room, gymnasium, sports hall, and dedicated art and music spaces. Sports provision covers cricket, swimming, gymnastics and netball, while extracurricular clubs include choir, coding, film club, drama and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is nursery provision for children from age three. While the school is oversubscribed, the fact that all first-preference applicants received offers suggests that families who prioritise it are likely to secure a place. This is a school that will particularly suit Catholic families or those who value a faith-based environment with strong academic outcomes and a broad range of activities.

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