Denby Free CofE VA Primary School

About Denby Free CofE VA Primary School

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School sits slightly above the Derbyshire local authority average for its key stage 2 combined expected standard in reading, writing and maths, with 62% of pupils hitting that benchmark compared with the LA average of 59%. That three-point gap is modest but worth noting, especially given the school’s small size of just 115 pupils. However, the picture is more mixed when you look at the higher standard: 31% of pupils achieved the higher threshold in reading, writing and maths combined, and the school’s maths average score of 105 and reading average of 108 are solid but not exceptional. In the Amber Valley local ranking, Denby places 22nd out of 43 primary schools, putting it in the bottom half of the district. Its national percentile of around 52.6 means it sits just above the median for all primary schools in England. So while the headline metrics are slightly above the LA norm, the school is not outperforming its neighbours by a wide margin.

Academically, the most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023 rated the school Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2013. The inspection report flagged quality of education and leadership and management as requiring improvement, though early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all judged Good. That split suggests the school has strengths in pastoral care and early years but is still working on curriculum delivery and leadership consistency. At key stage 2, 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and maths, and 77% did so in writing — all above the national average for those subjects. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say whether pupils are making strong gains from their starting points, but the attainment figures themselves are respectable for a school of this size and context.

Denby Free is a Church of England voluntary aided primary school in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, with a capacity of 140 and currently 115 pupils on roll. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 37 applications for 14 places, with 12 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.64. The school offers a Forest School, a sensory room, a chapel, playing fields and a library, plus clubs including science, eco and choir. Sports provision covers cross country, netball, football, tennis and more. SEND support is available for autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability, multi-sensory impairment, social emotional and mental health needs, and other difficulties. This is a small village primary with a strong local reputation — oversubscription suggests it is popular — but the Requires Improvement rating means parents should look closely at the most recent Ofsted report to see if the issues raised have been addressed. It will suit families who value a Church of England ethos, small class sizes, and a broad range of outdoor and enrichment activities, but who are comfortable with a school still working through an improvement plan.

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