Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #69 in Derbyshire public Top 12% UK

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Jackie Bell

location_onRipley, DE5 8PH

language Visit Website phone 1332880416

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

123

school

Expected Standard

80%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Ripley, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 12% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Ripley, Derbyshire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 115 pupils on roll, of whom 10% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 15% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #69 of 246 primaries in Derbyshire and #4,677 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 58%

Reading85% LA 73%

Writing90% LA 69%

Maths80% LA 71%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading85% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing77% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths85% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading85% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing60% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths65% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.8

Read

LA -0.2

-4.6 to 0.9

-3.1

Write

LA -0.2

-5.8 to -0.4

-3.7

Maths

LA -0.4

-6.3 to -1.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

59%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading71% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing71% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths71% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.4

Read

LA -0.5

-5.3 to 0.5

-3.7

Write

LA -0.2

-6.4 to -1.0

-5.1

Maths

LA -0.9

-7.7 to -2.5

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 63%

Reading79% LA 76%

Writing79% LA 78%

Maths84% LA 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -0.7

-4.1 to 1.3

-2.1

Write

LA -0.5

-4.7 to 0.5

-1.5

Maths

LA -1.2

-3.9 to 0.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 June 2023

Inspection Report

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01 February 2018

Inspection Report

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18 September 2013

Inspection Report

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22 September 2011

Inspection Report

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12 November 2008

Inspection Report

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06 December 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-02-01

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-09-18

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-09-22

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 115 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	115	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	114	1	0.9%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	116	1	0.9%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	127	1	0.8%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	127	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	125	2	1.6%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	123	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	123	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	129	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	128	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	129	1	0.8%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	130	1	0.8%	0.4%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	129	1	0.8%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	129	5	3.9%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	125	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	125	4	3.2%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	123	1	0.8%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	122	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	126	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	124	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	132	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	132	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	132	1	0.8%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	123	1	0.8%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	121	7	5.8%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	119	2	1.7%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Multi-Sensory Impairment 8 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree60%

agree33%

disagree7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree73%

agree20%

disagree7%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree37%

agree27%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable30%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree57%

agree33%

disagree3%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree77%

agree20%

strongly disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree60%

agree30%

disagree7%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree70%

agree23%

don't know7%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree77%

agree23%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree70%

agree20%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

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Good

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Etwall Primary School

Good

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Brockwell Junior School

Good

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Creswell Junior School

Good

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Abercrombie Primary School

Good

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View all schools in Derbyshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Derbyshire

William Gilbert Endowed Church of England Primary School

All Saints CofE Junior School

Etwall Primary School

Brockwell Junior School

Creswell Junior School

Abercrombie Primary School