Springfield Junior School

About Springfield Junior School

Springfield Junior School in South Derbyshire is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, and its intake tells a distinct story. The school has capacity for 288 pupils but currently enrols 200, meaning it is operating well below its maximum. That spare capacity is notable in a local authority with 353 primary schools, and it may reflect the school’s particular demographic profile. A very high 63.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, far above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the Derbyshire average for primary schools. This suggests Springfield serves a community with considerable economic disadvantage. The school is mixed, non-religious, and led by headteacher Emily Jones. There is no published admissions oversubscription data, so it is not possible to gauge demand directly, but the gap between pupil numbers and capacity implies the school is not currently oversubscribed. For families considering Springfield, the intake data signals a school that is deeply embedded in its local community and likely to have a strong focus on supporting pupils from lower-income backgrounds.

Academically, Springfield Junior School has made notable progress from a low base. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2021, when it was rated Requires Improvement across the board. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 37% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. The school’s average reading score was 99 and maths score was 102. Only 8% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, though 20% did so in maths and reading individually. Nationally, Springfield ranks in the bottom 7% of primary schools on the combined expected standard metric, and 26th out of 30 schools in South Derbyshire. These results reflect the challenges of a high-FSM intake, but the Ofsted upgrade suggests the school is heading in the right direction.

Springfield offers a solid range of facilities and support for families. The school has an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room, and a forest school, plus clubs including science, art, film, choir, drama and eco club. Sports on offer include gymnastics, cross country, football and dance. For children with additional needs, the SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is also a dedicated SEN unit. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. Given its below-capacity roll and high FSM rate, Springfield is likely to suit families who value a supportive, inclusive environment with strong pastoral and SEND infrastructure, and who are comfortable with a school that is still improving its academic outcomes. The Ofsted upgrade and broad facilities make it a pragmatic choice for local families.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Springfield Junior School

Helpful Guides for Parents