Howitt Primary Community School

About Howitt Primary Community School

Howitt Primary Community School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 66 applications for just 43 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.53, meaning more than one and a half families applied for every available spot. Of those 66 applications, 37 were first-preference choices, and all 37 of those families were offered a place. This level of demand suggests strong word-of-mouth reputation in the Amber Valley area. The school is a state-funded primary for children aged 2 to 11, with a mixed intake and no religious affiliation. It currently has 360 pupils on roll against a capacity of 427, so there is some physical room to grow, though the oversubscription figures show that demand already outstrips supply. The headteacher is Lynn Pilling, and the school also offers nursery provision for the youngest children.

Academically, Howitt performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a Derbyshire local authority average of just 59%. The school ranks 9th out of 43 primary schools in Amber Valley, placing it in the top 25% nationally by this measure. Looking at individual subjects, 88% met the expected standard in maths, 85% in reading, and 78% in writing. At the higher standard, 29% achieved greater depth in reading, 15% in writing, and 12% in maths. The average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 105 in maths. Ofsted visited in June 2023 and rated the school Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, music rooms, art studios, and a forest school. There are seven sports on offer, from netball and football to gymnastics and rounders, plus clubs like gardening, book club, science club and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, Howitt provides support for a wide range of SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and moderate learning difficulty. Given its strong academic results, oversubscribed status, and broad facilities, this school will particularly suit families who want a well-regarded local primary with a clear track record of improvement and a supportive environment for children with diverse needs.

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