Combs Infant School

About Combs Infant School

Combs Infant School is a small state primary in the High Peak area of Derbyshire, catering for children from age 2 to 7. With just 16 pupils on roll against a capacity of 38, it is one of the more intimate settings in the local authority, which counts 353 primary schools in total. Among its peers in the same local authority, the top-ranked schools include Wessington Primary School, Redhill Primary School, and Longford CofE Primary School, all of which share a perfect ranking score. Combs Infant School itself does not feature in that top tier, but its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 saw the school achieve a Good rating across all graded areas — a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2022, when it was judged to Require Improvement overall. The school is led by headteacher Joanna Sweatmore and has no religious character, making it a straightforward option for local families seeking a non-denominational start to their child’s education.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 awarded Good grades for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management. This marks a clear step up from the previous inspection in October 2022, where quality of education, early years provision, and leadership and management were all rated as Requires Improvement, while personal development and behaviour and attitudes were already Good. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results because its age range ends at 7, so there is no direct comparison with the Derbyshire local authority average of 59 for KS2 attainment. However, the improvement trajectory is clear from the Ofsted grades. The school’s percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.5%, which is relatively modest, and it offers nursery provision for the youngest children, giving families a continuous early years pathway within the same setting.

The school’s facilities include a gymnasium, outdoor playground, art studios, library, and chapel, and it offers a broad range of sports such as cricket, football, cross country, athletics, tennis, and netball. Clubs include Eco Club, Film Club, Art Club, Book Club, and Gardening, which suggests a focus on both creative and environmental interests. For children with additional needs, the school provides support for moderate learning difficulties and speech, language and communication needs. Admissions data for the 2025/26 academic year shows the school was oversubscribed, with 19 applications for 8 total places and an oversubscription ratio of 2.38. All 8 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which indicates that while demand is strong, local families who put it first have a good chance of securing a spot. This school will particularly suit families in the High Peak area who value a very small, community-focused infant setting with a clear upward trajectory in quality and a wide range of extracurricular activities.

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