Pennine Way Junior Academy
Swadlincote, DE11 9EY · Derbyshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
171st 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 — 2.9/10 against 2,100 of them, against 2.7/10 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 | 54.0 · 26 | 40% | 1.03 |
| 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.
Pennine Way Junior Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 54.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 3.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in December 2024. 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 (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 358 pupils against a stated capacity of 360. 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 below the expected standard in maths? What specific steps are taken to raise attainment to the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about Pennine Way Junior Academy
Overview
Pennine Way Junior Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a school where pupils are happy, feel safe, and benefit from strong relationships with home and effective support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- Pupils are ‘happy and proud to attend’ and quickly settle as part of the ‘Pennine family’, supported by effective communication and continuity with the local infant school.
- The curriculum is ‘mostly well designed’, with teachers providing clear plans and effective modelling that helps pupils build knowledge and write more competently.
- Reading is a priority, with daily whole-class lessons fostering fluency and a love of reading through ‘expressive and fluent reading’ and carefully selected texts.
- Staff workload and well-being have been ‘carefully considered’, and staff embrace support and professional development opportunities from the trust.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure revised curriculum plans in history and geography are implemented effectively, using consistent revision strategies so pupils secure an ‘appropriate breadth of knowledge’.
- Teaching and lesson activities must be successfully adapted for all pupils with SEND, ensuring staff have the necessary skills to meet their needs confidently.
- The approach to teaching British values requires development so all pupils gain an ‘age-appropriate understanding’ that prepares them for life in modern Britain.
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 | 57% |
| 2023/24 | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 54% |
| 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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