Penny Acres Primary School
120%
Capacity
60
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Penny Acres Primary School
Penny Acres Primary School sits within the Derbyshire local authority, a small state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11. In the North East Derbyshire area, it ranks 10th out of 35 primary schools, placing it comfortably in the top third locally. Its closest peers by ranking score include Wessington Primary School, Redhill Primary School, and Longford CofE Primary School, all of which share the top spot in the authority. With just 60 pupils on roll against a capacity of 50, the school is clearly popular and oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 21 applications for 9 places, all of which went to first-preference families. The school is led by Executive Headteacher David Ratcliffe and has no religious character. It does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, focusing entirely on its primary-age cohort.
Academically, Penny Acres performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Derbyshire LA average of 59%. Reading scores were particularly strong, with a 100% expected rate and 57% of pupils achieving a higher standard. Maths also impressed, with a 100% expected rate and an average scaled score of 105. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, a graded visit in 2014, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in July 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2012, when overall effectiveness was rated Requires Improvement. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 29% of primary schools for KS2 expected standards.
The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a Forest School, sensory room, gymnasium, sports hall, and ICT suite. Sports provision covers dance, rounders, tennis, football, cricket, athletics, and swimming, while clubs include art, gardening, eco club, choir, and film club. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscribed status and strong local ranking, Penny Acres is a good fit for families in the North East Derbyshire area who prioritise academic attainment and a broad extracurricular offer within a small, community-focused setting. Parents should be prepared to apply early and list the school as a first preference to secure a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | The Common, Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, S18 7WP |
| Headteacher | David Ratcliffe(Executive) |
| Local Authority | Derbyshire |
| Number of Pupils | 60 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.0% |
| School Capacity | 60 / 50 (120% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (4 Jul 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Feb 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (71%)
3932nd of 13,686
Nationally
350th of 1,353
In East Midlands
10th of 35
In North East Derbyshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
71%
Expected Standard
29%
Higher Standard
'22/23
100%
'23/24
71%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed9
21
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
9 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.3%
- White (other)6.7%
- Mixed1.7%
- Asian1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Penny Acres Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
The Common, Dronfield
North East Derbyshire, S18 7WP
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