Newhall Junior School

About Newhall Junior School

Newhall Junior School’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2021, rated it Requires Improvement overall, which places it below the standard of many primary schools in Derbyshire. For context, of the 353 primary schools in the local authority, only nine hold an Outstanding rating. The school’s headline metrics are not directly comparable to the LA average for Key Stage 2, which sits at 59, because Newhall’s most recent published results are not included in this data. However, the inspection breakdown offers a more nuanced picture: while the quality of education was judged Requires Improvement, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good. This suggests that the school’s difficulties are concentrated in academic delivery rather than in the wider pupil experience, and that the leadership team, under headteacher Clare Weaver, has areas of strength to build on.

Academically, the picture is mixed. The school’s previous inspection in February 2018 also rated it Requires Improvement overall, with leadership and management judged the same, so there has been no upward movement in the core academic judgement. The current quality of education rating of 3 (Requires Improvement) indicates that curriculum implementation and pupil outcomes need strengthening. Without published Key Stage 2 SATs data in this dataset, it is not possible to say how Newhall’s results compare to the Derbyshire average of 59% reaching the expected standard. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, with 47.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and likely a factor in its academic challenges. Parents considering the school should note that while the Ofsted report highlights good behaviour and personal development, the core academic offer is an area the school is actively working to improve.

Newhall Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, with a capacity of 356 and currently 284 pupils on roll, meaning it is not oversubscribed and has room to grow. Facilities are notably strong for a school of this type, including a sensory room, forest school area, sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, and even a chapel. The school offers a range of sports such as cross country, swimming, cricket, and athletics, plus clubs including film, eco, and gardening. Its SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a potentially good fit for families in South Derbyshire whose children require additional support, particularly those who might benefit from the strong behaviour and personal development environment, even as the school works on raising academic standards.

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