Cottons Farm Primary Academy
Derby, DE24 9HG · Derby · primary school
Check the area around this school
58th of 59 primary schools in Derby we can score, 74 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.4/10 against 348 of them, against 1.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 42.0 · 10 | 62% | 0.59 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 38% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Cottons Farm Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 42.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 133 pupils against a stated capacity of 152. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to bridge the gap between the expected and higher standards? What specific interventions are in place for the 42.0% who met the expected standard? How does the school plan to improve attainment for the majority of pupils?
What Ofsted said about Cottons Farm Primary Academy
Overview
Cottons Farm Primary Academy is described as an “absolute haven for pupils and their families” with a “wonderfully open and positive culture of care and respect.” The school has “improved markedly since the previous inspection,” offering a calm environment where pupils behave extremely well and feel safe. While the curriculum is well designed for long-term retention, inconsistencies remain in planning and teaching across all subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils are “known extremely well” and feel “very happy, safe and ready to learn.”
- The curriculum is “focused on the knowledge that pupils need” and is “well designed so that pupils remember their learning long term.”
- Reading is a “top priority” with “consistently well” taught phonics, leading to pupils who are “confident and fluent readers.”
- Staff “promptly identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)” and make “well-considered adaptations.”
- The school fosters a “rich and inclusive school community” where different cultures and faiths are welcomed and celebrated.
Areas to improve
- The school should ensure the curriculum is “consistently and securely planned and implemented” to address inconsistencies in vocabulary sequencing and learning checks in a few subjects.
- Provision for pupils with SEND is “not consistently strong”; the school must ensure adaptations allow these pupils to “fully access the wider ambitious curriculum” and achieve at expected levels.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 38% |
| 2023/24 | 33% |
| 2024/25 | 42% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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