SchoolScoresDunston Primary and Nursery Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of MINERVA LEARNING TRUST
Dunston Lane, Newbold, Chesterfield, S41 8EY
01246 450601 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 18 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Chesterfield comparisons use the 31 of its 63 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 32 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 | Chesterfield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 31st highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chesterfield. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 31st highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chesterfield. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 31st highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chesterfield. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 89% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 31st highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chesterfield. Higher than 0% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 38%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 5%). 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. Chesterfield figures pool parents at the Chesterfield 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
35 pupils in this year group.
31% — 28 points below the Derbyshire average, and 31 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 31% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 49% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 57% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 51% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Derbyshire. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 18 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 15 |
| Of those, offered a place | 15 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 37 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 60.4% | 30.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.1% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 18th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 5.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 53rd lowest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 24% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 50th lowest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.6% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 51st lowest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 13% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.9 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 58th lowest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Lower than 7% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.39% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 58th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 14% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.6 | 20.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 56th highest of 63 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 13% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.3 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 59 state primary schools in Chesterfield. Higher than 61% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.9% | 11.5%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Newbold CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cavendish Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highfield Hall Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), some aspects weaker 2025 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whittington Moor Nursery and Infant Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Christ Church CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brockwell Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brockwell Nursery and Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022
- Holme Hall Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abercrombie Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 18 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 31% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 31 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy?
38% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 15 families put Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy as their first choice for 18 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 15 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 145250.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.