SchoolScoresTaxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Reddish Road, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, SK23 7DL
01663 733262 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 April 2012.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
33 pupils in this year group.
79% — 20 points above the Derbyshire average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 79% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 94% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 15 |
|---|---|
| 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: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.3% | 30.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.8% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 8th highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 5.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 83% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.6 | 20.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 11 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 83% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.9 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 8 state primary schools in High Peak. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 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
- Whaley Bridge Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Buxworth Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kettleshulme St James CofE (VA) Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Furness Vale Primary and Nursery School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Combs Infant School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Newtown Primary School (High Peak Federation) 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chinley Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 April 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 15 families put Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School as their first choice for 15 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 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 112872.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.