SchoolScoresUnstone Junior School
Community school · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed
Main Road, Unstone, Dronfield, S18 4AB
01246 413109 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 13 January 2026 , published 19 April 2026.
In short: 2 expected, 2 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
Category of concern: Special measures. Ofsted will monitor the school closely until it improves.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Derbyshire comparisons use the 20 of its 354 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 334 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 | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 20th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 3% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 92% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 20th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 4% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 93% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 20th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 8% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 85% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern 19th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 9% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 79% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND 9th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 26% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 76% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 20th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Derbyshire. Higher than 6% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60%said yes | 91% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 42%). 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. Derbyshire figures pool parents at the Derbyshire 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
18 pupils in this year group.
67% — 8 points above the Derbyshire average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 89% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 78% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 47.5% | 30.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.1% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 5.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 9th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Lower than 71% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.3% | 10.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 33% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.1 | 20.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 13 state primary schools in Dronfield. Higher than 7% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.6 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- Unstone St Mary's Nursery and Infant School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Dronfield Stonelow Junior School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holmesdale Infant School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Northfield Junior School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mary Swanwick Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dronfield Junior School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dronfield Infant School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Lenthall Infant and Nursery School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- New Whittington Community Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cavendish Junior School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Unstone Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Unstone Junior School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 13 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 expected, 2 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement, and safeguarding was met.
How did Unstone Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Unstone Junior School?
60% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Unstone Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 112642.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.