Shelton Junior School

About Shelton Junior School

Shelton Junior School in Derby is a state primary for pupils aged 7 to 11, currently home to 280 children against a capacity of 300, meaning it is running very close to full. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 43.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average of around 23% and well above the Derby local authority average. Despite this challenging intake, the school is clearly in demand, with its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 confirming it remains a Good school, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014. The headteacher, Jon Bacon, leads a mixed-gender, non-denominational school that has no nursery or sixth form provision, focusing entirely on the junior years.

Academically, Shelton Junior School produces results that are broadly in line with or slightly above the local authority average, given its context. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just below the Derby LA average of 55%. However, the school’s reading results are a clear strength: 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, with an average scaled score of 104, and 16% achieved the higher standard. Maths is more mixed, with 68% at expected and an average score of 102, but only 11% reaching the higher standard. Writing and maths at the higher level both sit at just 3%. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom half for its combined expected standard, placing 32nd out of 58 primary schools in Derby and in the 73rd percentile nationally.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including art studios, a library, a sensory room, music rooms and playing fields, with sports like cricket, football, athletics and netball on offer. Clubs such as science, eco, art, coding, book club and chess provide enrichment beyond the timetable. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND provisions are notably broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With no nursery or sixth form, it is a straightforward junior school for families seeking a focused, well-supported primary phase. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Wyndham Spencer Academy, 1.8 km away, which may be a consideration for parents weighing options in the area.

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