SchoolScoresHighfields Spencer Academy
Free school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST
Tutbury Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 3UX
01332 955599 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 3 June 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 | Good |
| 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
66 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 46th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 49th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 51st highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 32nd highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 16% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 39% | 56% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern Joint 40th highest of 51 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 17% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 22 parents of children with SEND 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 9% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 64% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 51st highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derby. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 28%). 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 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 61 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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 | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 55th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.4% | 30.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 75th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 90th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.7% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 43rd highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.2% | 5.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 29th lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 35th lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 74th lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 83rd lowest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 37th highest of 106 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 71% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.4 | 20.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 70th highest of 107 state primary schools in Derby. Higher than 42% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.3 | 10.5 | 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% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Griffe Field Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Carlyle Infant and Nursery Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Brookfield Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gayton Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's Catholic Voluntary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ridgeway Infant School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Grampian Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stenson Fields Primary Community School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 33% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wren Park Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Highfields Spencer Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 3 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Highfields Spencer Academy?
64% of the 66 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Highfields Spencer Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Highfields Spencer Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put Highfields Spencer Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 28 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 147869.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.