Holbrook Church of England Primary School

About Holbrook Church of England Primary School

Holbrook Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, and it punches well above its weight locally. Among 43 primary schools in the Amber Valley local authority area, it ranks 1st, placing it firmly in the top 5% of schools in the district. Its closest academic peers, according to local rankings, are Redhill Primary School, Wessington Primary School, and Longford CofE Primary School, all of which share the same top-tier ranking score. The school is led by headteacher Ingrid Taylor and has a Church of England religious character. With 136 pupils on roll, it is very close to its capacity of 140, and the school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 46 applications for just 20 places, with 22 of those as first preferences. This level of demand reflects its strong reputation in the area, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and for behaviour and attitudes.

Academically, Holbrook CofE Primary delivers results that are well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. Every single pupil met the expected standard in reading, and 95% did so in maths. At the higher standard, 20% of pupils achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with 60% reaching the higher standard in reading alone. Average scaled scores were strong too: 111 in reading and 108 in maths. The school’s Ofsted breakdown from its 2025 inspection shows that the quality of education, early years provision, and leadership and management are all rated Good, while personal development and behaviour and attitudes are Outstanding. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2011, where early years provision was also rated Good, but personal development and behaviour were not separately graded.

The school offers a range of facilities that support both learning and wellbeing, including a Forest School, a Sensory Room, a Sports Hall, and a Chapel. Its SEND provisions cover Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs, and Speech, Language & Communication needs, though the Parent View data for 2024/25 shows no responses to the question on SEND support, so it is difficult to gauge parent satisfaction in that area. Overall, the Parent View feedback is very positive: 95% of the 39 respondents would recommend the school, and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. Clubs include Eco Club, Film Club, Chess, Choir, Gardening, and Art Club, while sports on offer are Athletics, Cricket, Netball, Cross Country, and Rounders. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed village primary with a strong sense of community and a clear focus on personal development alongside academic achievement.

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