Hague Bar Primary School

About Hague Bar Primary School

Hague Bar Primary School is a small state primary in High Peak, Derbyshire, with just 47 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105. That means the school is running at less than half its potential size, which gives it an intimate, almost village-school feel. Despite the spare capacity, demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 24 applications for just 8 places, with 6 of those coming as first preferences. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 3 to 1, a clear signal that local families are keen to get in. The school’s free school meal rate isn’t given here, but with such a small cohort, individual circumstances are likely well known to staff. It’s a mixed, non-religious school for ages 5 to 11, led by headteacher Karen McCurdy, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2011.

Academically, Hague Bar punches well above its weight. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, 88% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — far above the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 1st out of 34 primary schools in High Peak on this measure, placing it in the top 5% nationally. Reading scores are particularly strong: the average scaled score was 114, with 63% of pupils reaching the higher standard. Maths also performed well, with an average score of 109 and 25% hitting the higher threshold. Progress scores aren’t available in the data, so we can’t say how much value the school adds relative to starting points, but the raw outcomes are impressive. Ofsted’s 2023 ungraded inspection noted the school remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. The previous graded inspection in 2013 had given a Requires Improvement overall, so the trajectory is clearly upward.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a library, playing fields, a sports hall, a dining hall, and even a chapel, plus a Forest School programme that will appeal to families who value outdoor learning. Sports include athletics, swimming, netball, cricket and cross country, and there are clubs for chess, art and gardening. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication support — useful for parents whose children may need extra help in a small, attentive setting. With only 47 pupils, this is a school where your child will be known individually, but the oversubscription means you’ll need to apply early and put it as a first preference to stand a chance. It’s best suited to families who want strong academic outcomes in a tight-knit, rural-style primary without a religious character.

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