Grange Primary School

About Grange Primary School

Grange Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 98 applications for just 52 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.88. That means nearly two families applied for every available spot, and all 52 first-preference offers were taken up. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high demand speaks for itself. The school is led by headteacher Zoe Buxton and serves 431 pupils in Erewash, Derbyshire, which is notably above its official capacity of 383. A significant 35.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake. The school also offers nursery provision for children aged three and up, which can be a major practical advantage for working parents looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6.

Academically, Grange Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2014. In its most recent graded inspection in 2016, leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all rated Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That's slightly below the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. However, individual subject scores are more encouraging: 69% met the expected standard in maths and 67% in reading, with average scaled scores of 104 in both. The school ranks 16th out of 25 primary schools in Erewash and sits in the bottom 50 nationally, but given the high proportion of pupils on free school meals, these results should be viewed in context.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, sensory room, outdoor playground, ICT suite, and even a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, rounders, football, netball, tennis and cricket, while after-school clubs include chess, art club and coding. For families with children who have additional needs, the SEND support is notably comprehensive, covering ten different areas from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autism, hearing impairment and physical disability. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is essential. Grange Primary will particularly suit families who value a diverse, inclusive community with strong SEND provision and a broad extracurricular offer, and who are comfortable with a school that serves a high-needs catchment while maintaining a Good Ofsted rating.

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