Duke of Norfolk CofE Primary School

About Duke of Norfolk CofE Primary School

Duke of Norfolk CofE Primary School in High Peak is a state primary with a Church of England character that currently educates 300 pupils against a capacity of 330, leaving a small buffer of unfilled places. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.7%, which is notably above the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment with above-average economic disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 62 applications for 31 places, with exactly 31 first-preference applications, meaning every family who put it first got a spot, but the overall oversubscription ratio of 2:1 shows it is a popular choice locally. The school offers nursery provision for children from age three, and its intake spans the full primary age range up to 11. Headteacher Sophia Barker leads a mixed-gender school that draws families from across the High Peak borough.

Academically, Duke of Norfolk has improved significantly. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, the school achieved a Good rating across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This marks a clear step up from its previous inspection in October 2021, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall, with quality of education also at that lower grade. At Key Stage 2, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is slightly above the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. However, only 4% reached the higher standard in all three subjects. Average scores were 105 in reading and 104 in maths, both in line with national averages. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. In the East Midlands, the school ranks in the 50th percentile among primaries.

The school is well equipped with facilities that support both academic learning and personal development, including a sensory room, forest school area, gymnasium, library, music rooms and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, athletics, football, cross country, rounders and gymnastics, while after-school clubs include gardening, coding, drama and film club. The school has a broad range of SEND provisions, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities and other difficulties. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children need additional support within a mainstream setting. Given its oversubscription but fair first-preference offer rate, families living within the catchment or with a strong church connection are likely to have the best chance of securing a place.

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