Peak Dale Primary School

About Peak Dale Primary School

Peak Dale Primary School's headline metrics present a mixed picture when set against the Derbyshire local authority average for primary schools. The most striking figure is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which sits at just 30 per cent. That is nearly half the LA average of 59 per cent, placing the school in the bottom half of the county's primary league table. However, the picture is far more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 80 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, well above the national benchmark, and 20 per cent achieved the higher standard. Writing and maths were weaker, with 50 per cent and 30 per cent reaching the expected level respectively. The average reading score of 104 is solid, while the maths average of 98 is below par. So while the headline combined figure is a concern, the school is clearly getting strong results in reading.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024 judged it Good across all graded areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The early years provision was also rated Good. This represents a consistent performance compared with its previous inspection in 2019, which also awarded an overall Good rating, though leadership and management was then judged Outstanding. The school's small size — just 75 pupils against a capacity of 88 — means class sizes are small, which may explain the strong reading outcomes. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 18.7 per cent, slightly above the national average, but the school's Progress 8 data is not available, so it is difficult to assess how much value the school adds relative to its intake. The school ranks 238th out of 353 primary schools in Derbyshire based on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom third of the county.

Peak Dale is a mixed, non-denominational state primary for children aged 4 to 11, located in the High Peak borough. It offers a decent range of facilities including a gymnasium, library, playing fields, art studios and a chapel, plus sports such as tennis, athletics, swimming and cricket. Clubs include book club, coding, film club and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and physical disability. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed: 21 applications for 13 places, with all 13 first-preference applicants receiving an offer. That oversubscription ratio of 1.62 suggests local demand is strong, despite the middling headline results. This school would suit families who prioritise a small, community-focused setting with strong reading outcomes and a broad range of extracurricular activities, but who are comfortable with below-average maths and writing results at the expected standard.

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