Unstone Junior School

About Unstone Junior School

Unstone Junior School, a small state primary in North East Derbyshire, was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The school’s most telling academic metric is its Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard, which sits at 50% for the 2023/24 academic year. This is below the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%, placing the school 176th out of 353 similar primaries in the area. In the broader East Midlands region, it ranks in the bottom half of schools for this measure. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects: 71% of pupils met the expected standard in both maths and writing, and the average scaled scores for reading and maths both came in at 102, exactly the national benchmark. No pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects, though 14% did so in maths.

The Ofsted report from November 2021 awarded Good across all four inspected categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Inspectors noted the school’s small size—just 59 pupils against a capacity of 76—and the headteacher Rachael Fowlds was praised for leading a culture of improvement. The school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, with 45.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average. This context is important when interpreting the exam results, as schools with high levels of deprivation often face additional challenges in reaching academic benchmarks. The school’s progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points.

Unstone Junior School caters for children aged 7 to 11 and is non-denominational. Its facilities include a library, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room and a dining hall. Sports on offer include tennis, swimming, cross country, athletics and rounders, while clubs cover book club, coding and film club. The school has a broad range of SEND provisions, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With only 59 pupils on roll, classes are likely to be small, which can benefit children who need more individual attention. The school is oversubscribed relative to its capacity, so families should check admission arrangements carefully. This is a school that suits parents looking for a small, inclusive setting with a strong pastoral focus, particularly for children who may need additional support or thrive in a less pressured environment.

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