Morton Primary Academy

About Morton Primary Academy

Morton Primary Academy is a small state primary in North East Derbyshire, with 102 pupils on roll against a capacity of 104 — so it's essentially full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 25.5%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools (around 23%) and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 30 applications for just 12 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.5 to one. All 10 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning families who put Morton first were successful, but the overall numbers show it's a popular choice locally. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children aged 5 to 11. It has no nursery provision and no sixth form, so it's a straightforward primary feeding into local secondary schools.

Academically, Morton performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 88% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Derbyshire average of just 59%. That puts the school second out of 35 primaries in the North East Derbyshire district, and in the top 3% nationally. The average scores in reading and maths were both 109, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 44% achieved that level in reading, 50% in maths, and 19% in writing. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds, but the raw outcomes are strong. Ofsted last inspected in December 2022 and rated the school Requires Improvement overall, though behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision were all judged Good. Leadership and management and quality of education were rated Requires Improvement. The previous inspection had been Inadequate, so this represents an improvement.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including a sports hall, playing fields, a library, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, and a forest school area. Sports on offer include football, netball, cricket, gymnastics, athletics, rounders and dance, and there are clubs such as book club, choir, coding, film club and drama. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. With only 102 pupils, class sizes are likely small, which could suit children who benefit from more individual attention. The oversubscription means families need to apply early and list Morton as a first preference to maximise their chances. It's a good fit for families who prioritise strong academic outcomes over a recent Ofsted rating, and who want a small, community-focused primary with a broad extracurricular offer.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Morton Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents