Walton Holymoorside Primary School

About Walton Holymoorside Primary School

Walton Holymoorside Primary School sits within the Derbyshire local authority, in the North East Derbyshire borough, and ranks 4th out of 35 primary schools in that borough — comfortably inside the top 10. Across the wider Derbyshire area, it places 26th out of 353 primary schools of the same type. The top-performing peers in the local landscape are Wessington Primary School, Redhill Primary School, and Longford CofE Primary School, all of which share the same maximum ranking score. Headteacher Ian Holmes leads a mixed, state primary for pupils aged 3 to 11, with no religious character. The school is at full capacity with 376 pupils, and just 6.6% of them are eligible for free school meals — well below the national average, suggesting a relatively affluent intake. Its nursery provision means children can join from age three, and the school is clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 106 applications for 46 places, with 45 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.3.

Academically, Walton Holymoorside performs strongly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 81% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — significantly above the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. The school’s ranking score of 81 on this metric places it in the top 10% nationally. In maths, 98% of pupils achieved the expected standard and 32% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. Reading saw 81% at expected and 30% at higher, with an average score of 106. Writing was slightly lower, with 94% at expected and 13% at higher. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the attainment figures alone are strong. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, rated it Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. Its previous inspection in 2014 also rated it Good, so the school has held a consistent standard over time.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, sports hall, music rooms, and a chapel, plus an ICT suite and library. Sports on offer include gymnastics, netball, football, swimming, and cross country, while clubs range from film and chess to coding, gardening, and science. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and physical disability — so the school is equipped to support a variety of additional needs. For families considering this school, the data paints a picture of a well-regarded, oversubscribed primary that delivers above-average academic outcomes in a relatively advantaged catchment. It suits parents who prioritise strong KS2 results and a full range of enrichment activities, and who are comfortable with a competitive admissions process.

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