Roe Farm Primary School

About Roe Farm Primary School

Roe Farm Primary School’s headline metrics place it significantly below the Derby local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 is 55%, Roe Farm’s figure sits at just 33%. This puts the school in the bottom 50 nationally and ranks it 55th out of 58 primaries in Derby, a position that makes it one of the lowest-performing schools in the city on this measure. The gap is stark, and it’s the first thing any parent comparing schools will notice. That said, the school is not without its strengths. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in June 2024, Roe Farm was rated Good across every category — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2020. This suggests that while academic outcomes at the end of primary are currently low, the school’s leadership and teaching quality have been judged to be on a much firmer footing than before.

A closer look at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results shows a mixed picture. In reading, 62% of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 102 — broadly in line with national expectations. Maths was slightly lower, with 60% reaching the expected standard and an average score of 102. The real challenge lies in writing, where only 42% of pupils achieved the expected standard, and no pupils at all reached the higher standard. Combined, just 33% of pupils hit the expected standard across all three subjects. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it’s difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. However, the Ofsted report notes that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision are all Good, and the school has clearly moved on from its previous Requires Improvement rating. For parents, the key question is whether the upward trajectory in leadership and teaching will translate into stronger academic results in the coming years.

Roe Farm is a larger-than-average primary with 382 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 455. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 69 applications for 41 places and 39 first-preference offers, so demand is solid. The school has a nursery provision and caters for children aged 3 to 11. It offers a wide range of facilities including a forest school, art studios, music rooms, a gymnasium and a chapel, plus clubs like book club, art club, film club and chess. Sports include athletics, football, tennis, dance, rounders and gymnastics. The school’s SEND provision is notably broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 50% of pupils eligible for free school meals, this is a school serving a high-deprivation community. It will suit families who value a supportive, inclusive environment and are reassured by the recent Ofsted upgrade, but who are realistic about where academic outcomes currently sit compared to other Derby primaries.

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