Elton CofE Primary School

About Elton CofE Primary School

Elton CofE Primary School is a tiny Church of England primary in the Derbyshire Dales, with just 14 pupils on roll against a capacity of 46. It sits within the Derbyshire local authority, where it ranks 248th out of 353 primary schools of the same type. The top-performing peers in the area are Wessington Primary School, Redhill Primary School, and Longford CofE Primary School, all of which achieved the maximum ranking score. For families prioritising a school with a strong local reputation, the nearest outstanding-rated alternative is Stanton-in-Peak CofE Primary School, 3.9 kilometres away. Elton’s own most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, judged the school as Requires Improvement overall, though inspectors did not issue a final effectiveness grade. The school has shown some progress since its previous inspection in May 2024, when it was rated Inadequate across all areas.

Academically, Elton’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year are very low. No pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and the school ranks in the bottom 50 nationally on this metric. In reading, 33% of pupils met the expected standard and 17% reached the higher standard, while in writing just 17% met expectations and none reached the higher level. The average maths score was 91, and the average reading score was 98. These figures sit well below the Derbyshire local authority average of 59% for the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. The school’s ranking in the Derbyshire Dales local area is bottom, at 35th out of 35 schools. Despite these outcomes, parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of respondents would recommend the school, and 71% strongly agreed their child is happy and feels safe.

The school offers a range of facilities including a chapel, forest school, library, sports hall, and playing fields, plus clubs such as eco club, choir, book club and drama. Sports on offer include tennis, football, netball, cricket and rounders. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disabilities, with 70% of parents strongly agreeing that SEND children receive the support they need. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 42.9%, and with only 14 children currently enrolled, class sizes are very small. This setting would suit families who value a close-knit, rural Church of England environment and are comfortable with the school’s current academic profile and Ofsted rating. Oversubscription is unlikely given the low numbers, and the school does not offer nursery or sixth-form provision.

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