Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy
Chesterfield, S41 8EY · Derbyshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
212nd of 263 primary schools in Derbyshire we can score, 354 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 905 of them, against 2.6/10 nationally. 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 | 31.0 · 3 | 62% | 0.20 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 38% | 2.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 31.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. A higher 9.0% achieved the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 227 pupils against a stated capacity of 270. 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 current 31.0% expected standard and the national median of 64%? What specific strategies are used to maintain the higher standard achievement rate of 9.0%?
What Ofsted said about Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending this school and feel well cared for, with behaviour and personal development rated as good. However, the quality of education requires improvement because the new curriculum has not yet fully addressed previous knowledge deficits, resulting in insecure and disjointed learning for some pupils.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well, play kindly, and take pride in contributing to the school community through roles such as pupil parliament and play leaders.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is excellent, with staff skilfully adapting activities to ensure full inclusion.
- Early years provision is strong, with children developing clear speech and language through high-quality interactions.
- The phonics programme is followed consistently, and pupils enjoy reading, particularly through the newly introduced ‘book study’.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and staff support pupils sensitively when they struggle with behavioural expectations.
Areas to improve
- Staff require better guidance and expertise to implement the new curriculum effectively and address gaps in pupils’ prior learning.
- Processes for checking pupils’ learning are not consistently effective, leaving some misconceptions and knowledge gaps unaddressed.
- Support for pupils falling behind in phonics and reading is insufficient, preventing them from catching up quickly enough.
- Pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values and equality between communities is limited and needs to be deepened.
Safeguarding
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 | 44% |
| 2023/24 | 40% |
| 2024/25 | 31% |
| 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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