SchoolScoresCastleward Spencer Academy
Free school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST
Canal Street, Derby, DE1 2RJ
01332 949471 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 9 July 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Derby comparisons use the 52 of its 107 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 55 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 16th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 88% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 16 parents who had raised a concern Joint 25th highest of 51 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 80% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 12th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Derby figures pool parents at the Derby schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Derby. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (67%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 65 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.5 · 2026: 1.4
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Derby | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 66th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.0% | 39.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 9th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 93% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.0% | 15.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 16th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 65.5% | 36.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 15.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 20th highest of 106 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.8 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 86th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 25% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.3 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 79th highest of 97 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.6%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- St James' CofE Aided Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024
- Rosehill Infant and Nursery School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2024
- St James' CofE Aided Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Zaytouna Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Derwent Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 2 needs attention, 4 urgent improvement · 29% met expected standard (KS2)
- Becket Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Arboretum Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 29% met expected standard (KS2)
- Derby St Chad's CofE Nursery and Infant School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Hardwick Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castleward Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?
Castleward Spencer Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 July 2024.
Would parents recommend Castleward Spencer Academy?
97% of the 31 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Castleward Spencer Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castleward Spencer Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put Castleward Spencer Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 29 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148585.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.