Portway Junior School
Derby, DE22 2GL · Derby · primary school
Check the area around this school
21st 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 — 4.3/10 against 3,623 of them, against 4.5/10 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 | 56.0 · 30 | 40% | 1.18 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 11.0 · 71 | 25% | 1.77 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Portway Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. 11.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2023.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 297 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 activities take place during the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Portway Junior School
Overview
Portway Junior School continues to be a good school, maintaining a "friendly atmosphere" where pupils feel safe and behave well. Leaders have established a clear vision to create "life-long learners," supported by a carefully designed curriculum that builds knowledge step by step and engages actively with educational research.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate the ‘Portway 5’ values, showing they are "responsible, respectful, caring, friendly and active" with warm relationships with staff.
- Teachers adapt their teaching to meet individual needs, ensuring all pupils follow the same curriculum and achieve well, with particular success in mathematics and writing.
- Effective systems are in place to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including tenacious work with external agencies.
- Leaders promote reading through carefully chosen texts and a developed library, helping pupils who need help to catch up and gain confidence.
- Staff receive training that helps them develop their practice, and they value the "right balance of support and challenge" from trust leaders and governors.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must consistently teach important vocabulary explicitly and check pupils’ understanding to remove barriers to efficient work and clear communication.
- Leaders must ensure safeguarding chronologies are complete so they accurately reflect the full extent of actions taken to support pupils, families, and external agencies.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "well-established culture" supported by rigorous staff training, although records do not always reflect the actions leaders take.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 60% |
| 2023/24 | 69% |
| 2024/25 | 56% |
| 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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