Highfield Hall Primary School
Chesterfield, S41 8AZ · Derbyshire · primary school
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197th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.7/10 against 2,156 of them, against 1.8/10 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 | 43.0 · 11 | 40% | 0.42 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 3.0 · 29 | 25% | 0.73 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Highfield Hall Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 3.0% 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 (1.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2025.
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a KS2 choir, a breakfast club, and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 375 pupils against a stated capacity of 460. 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 who are not reaching the expected standard in maths? What specific activities take place during the after-school club? How does the KS2 choir prepare for performances?
What Ofsted said about Highfield Hall Primary School
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that while the school remains a nurturing environment where pupils are well supported, evidence suggests some aspects of its work may not be as strong as at the previous inspection. Consequently, the school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection. The report highlights that although staff are valued and safeguarding is effective, inconsistencies in curriculum implementation and English teaching hinder pupil achievement.
Strengths
- The school is described as a ‘nurturing place to learn’ where ‘pupils are at the heart’ of the community and relationships are ‘respectful and positive’.
- Teachers possess ‘secure subject knowledge’ and effectively use ‘subject-specific vocabulary’, particularly in mathematics where early years provision is ‘strong’.
- Emotional health is a ‘real strength’, with pupils learning to manage feelings and benefiting from support such as the school’s reading therapy dog.
- Systems for identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are effective, allowing many to ‘access the same learning as their peers’.
- Governors ‘know the school well’ and ensure leaders are kept informed, with improvement priorities deemed ‘accurate’.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure staff ‘implement the curriculum effectively in all subjects’ so pupils have sufficient opportunities to rehearse and recall key knowledge, rather than just remembering tasks.
- Staff expectations of fundamental skills in English need to be higher; specifically, ‘pupils’ misconceptions of letter formation, spelling and grammar are not resolved’ consistently, hindering writing fluency.
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 | 50% |
| 2023/24 | 46% |
| 2024/25 | 43% |
| 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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