Buxworth Primary School, High Peak

Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades Buxworth Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a clear approach to identifying and overcoming the barriers that affect some pupils' attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders consider the challenges faced by some pupils carefully, including those pupils known previously to social care."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a carefully planned personal development and wellbeing programme that helps pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and experiences they need for life beyond primary school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Published outcomes in writing, mathematics and English grammar, punctuation and spelling are below national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Sometimes, pupils do not benefit from learning activities that help them to recall key knowledge."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have introduced a range of strategies to resolve weaknesses in achievement and strengthen the provision."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that recent developments in writing, mathematics and pupils' foundational knowledge, including handwriting, English grammar, punctuation and spelling, are implemented consistently so that pupils learn, remember and apply the intended curriculum effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that learning is matched consistently to pupils' needs and starting points so that pupils build securely on prior learning and acquire the knowledge and skills intended across the curriculum"; "Leaders, including governors, should evaluate the impact of their work thoroughly to ensure that agreed actions are implemented consistently and lead to improved outcomes for pupils".

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Buxworth Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 41% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 57% in reading and 52% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Buxworth Primary School as their first choice and 35 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Buxworth Primary School are Whaley Bridge Primary School (1 mile, Good, 63% reading, 63% maths); Furness Vale Primary and Nursery School (1.2 miles, Good, 93% reading, 86% maths); Taxal and Fernilee CofE Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Chinley Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Buxworth Primary School.

0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 9 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 2 (1.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Buxworth Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Whaley Bridge Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Saint James Church (opposite), 150 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 22 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).

In 2024/25, Buxworth Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.