Chaucer Infant School, Ilkeston

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school has dedicated and caring staff who create an environment that is nurturing and engaging where all children are encouraged to develop a love of learning and to achieve the highest standards in all that they do."

For September 2026 entry, 47 families put Chaucer Infant School as their first choice and 100 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 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 Chaucer Infant School are Chaucer Junior School (0.1 miles, 75% reading, 78% maths); Larklands Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); Kensington Junior Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 74% maths); and St Thomas Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 82% reading, 85% maths).

Chaucer Infant School is one of 29 schools run by Embark Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chaucer Infant School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

39.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 44 pupils (23.4%) received SEN support and 5 (2.7%) 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.

Chaucer Infant School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Ilkeston Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lime Street (adjacent), 370 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 284 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 Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Chaucer Infant School issued 22 suspensions, 10.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Chaucer Infant School are Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy (0.5 miles), Kirk Hallam Community Academy (0.9 miles) and Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy (1.2 miles).