Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Derby

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Overall, pupils' attitudes to learning are positive."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders make attendance a clear priority."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have carefully designed the curriculum to ensure that pupils build their knowledge in a logical order from the early years to Year 6."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that children make a positive start to school life."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have clear systems to identify pupils' individual needs, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance have a thorough understanding of the context of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' personal development and wellbeing so that all pupils can succeed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to support teachers to use adaptive strategies, so that support is well matched to pupils' needs to enable their progress"; "Leaders should ensure that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well and that they swiftly identify and address gaps in pupils' learning"; "Leaders should further embed the whole-school approach to writing, so that pupils develop the skills they need to achieve a higher standard in their written work".

In its own words: "PE, Sport and Physical Activity and Sports Premium Leader Music Subject Leader Outdoor Learning and Forest School Leader ECO warriors"

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, dance and drama.

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Derby and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (85% in reading, 79% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery are Firs Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 52% reading, 45% maths); Dale Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 64% maths); Becket Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 52% maths); and Derby St Chad's CofE Nursery and Infant School (0.5 miles, Good).

Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery is one of 33 schools run by Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

37.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 33.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (38%), Black (20%) and Mixed (14%).

In 2026, 43 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 5 (2.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westbury Street (adjacent), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1081 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derby (267), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery issued 14 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary School and Nursery are The Bemrose School (0.4 miles), Derby Cathedral School (0.6 miles), Derby Moor Spencer Academy (1.4 miles) and Murray Park Community School (1.5 miles).