Clipstone Brook Lower School

About Clipstone Brook Lower School

Clipstone Brook Lower School sits in a local authority where the average Key Stage 2 score for primary schools is 54, but this school doesn't publish its own KS2 results in the available data, so it's hard to make a direct academic comparison. What is clear is that the school is heavily oversubscribed: for its 59 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 138 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.34. Only 47 first-preference offers were made from 49 first-preference applications, meaning a significant number of families who put it first still missed out. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, even if the raw headline metrics aren't on display. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 9, with a nursery provision, and it's run by headteacher Sarah Orr. It's rated Good by Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections.

Ofsted's most recent graded inspection, in November 2019, rated the school Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards had been maintained. The school's Progress 8 score isn't available in the data, and neither are its KS2 SATs results, so we can't benchmark it against the LA average of 54. However, the parent view survey, based on 64 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, paints a largely positive picture: 89% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 92% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 75% agreed the school ensures good conduct, though 20% disagreed. Support for children with SEND received strong backing, with 73% agreeing or strongly agreeing that needs are met. The school's Ofsted breakdown shows it has provisions for a range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional mental health.

The school is well equipped with facilities including a library, sports hall, playing fields, forest school, sensory room, and art studios. It offers a broad range of sports from football and cricket to gymnastics and swimming, plus clubs like coding, chess, and gardening. With 297 pupils against a capacity of 300, it's essentially full, and 11.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average for primary schools. The school is non-religious and mixed, serving children from age 3 up to Year 4, after which they'll need to move to a middle or upper school. For families considering it, the key takeaway is that getting a place is competitive — oversubscription is high — and while academic outcomes data is thin, the Ofsted record and parent satisfaction levels suggest a school that's delivering reliably good provision. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Dovery Academy, 1.9 km away, which might be an alternative for those who don't secure a place here.

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