Clowne Infant and Nursery School

About Clowne Infant and Nursery School

Clowne Infant and Nursery School is a state primary for children aged 3 to 7, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school currently has 307 pupils on roll, which is 37 above its official capacity of 270, indicating that it is running well over its intended size. This pressure is reflected in the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 110 applications for just 63 places, with 62 of those coming as first preferences. That works out at 1.75 applications for every place, a strong signal of demand in the Bolsover area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools, suggesting the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school has maintained a Good rating from Ofsted across both its most recent inspections, including the graded visit in May 2024.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted report, published in June 2024, rated every inspected category as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This consistency is a solid indicator of reliable teaching and leadership under headteacher Susie Kirby. The previous inspection in 2017 also awarded an overall Good, though early years provision at that time was rated Requires Improvement, so the improvement to Good in that area is a notable step forward. While the school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results — it only goes up to Year 2 — the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment across Derbyshire primary schools is 59, which provides a benchmark for the upper end of the local primary landscape. Clowne’s focus on the early years and infant phase means its academic success is measured more through Ofsted’s lens than through published exam data, but the consistent Good ratings suggest a stable and effective learning environment.

The school offers a broad range of facilities for such a young age group, including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, and a forest school, plus a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, netball, swimming, tennis, and rounders, and there are clubs in coding, chess, science, and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, the SEND provision is extensive, covering social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school also has a nursery provision, making it a natural choice for families looking for a single setting from age 3 up to Year 2. Given the oversubscription rate, parents should definitely apply as a first preference to maximise their chances. Clowne Infant and Nursery School is best suited to families in the Bolsover area who want a well-regarded, inclusive infant school with strong early years support and a wide range of enrichment activities.

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