Morley Primary School

About Morley Primary School

Morley Primary School holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections. The school was last inspected in 2012, when inspectors awarded top marks for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. In the previous inspection in 2009, it also achieved Outstanding across all graded categories. This consistency places Morley among a select group in Derbyshire — only nine of the 353 primary schools in the local authority currently hold the top Ofsted grade. The school’s academic story is further underlined by its Key Stage 2 performance. Morley’s pupils achieve a Progress 8 score that places it among the top-performing primary schools in the area, alongside peers like Wessington Primary and Redhill Primary, which share the highest possible ranking score. With just 79 pupils on roll, the school delivers strong outcomes in a small, focused setting.

In terms of academic outcomes, Morley Primary’s Key Stage 2 results consistently outperform the Derbyshire average. The local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is 59 per cent, and Morley’s pupils comfortably exceed this benchmark. The school’s small cohort size means individual results can fluctuate year to year, but the trend is clearly positive. The school does not have a sixth form, as it caters for children aged 5 to 11, and there is no nursery provision on site. The curriculum is supported by a range of clubs including Coding, Science Club, Book Club and Film Club, which help to extend learning beyond the classroom. Sports provision is broad for a school of this size, with gymnastics, swimming, football, dance, rounders and cross country all on offer.

Morley Primary is significantly oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school offered 18 places and received 47 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.61. Of those, 12 families listed Morley as their first preference, and all 12 were offered a place. The school’s facilities include a library, ICT suite, dining hall, outdoor playground, sensory room, gymnasium and even a chapel — an unusual feature for a state primary. For children with additional needs, the school provides support for Specific Learning Difficulties including dyslexia. With its strong academic record, small class sizes and high demand, Morley Primary is well suited to families in the Erewash area who value consistent, high-quality teaching in a close-knit community school. Parents should be aware that securing a place requires early application and a realistic first preference.

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