Chaucer Junior School, Ilkeston

From the headteacher's welcome: "After many years at Chaucer, I could not feel prouder to be responsible for the education of our talented, diverse and unique children. As part of our Chaucer family, we will help them to unlock their potential, develop their personal skills and grow into capable young individuals, whilst keeping them safe and guarding their wellbeing. At Chaucer, everybody is welcome."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, hockey, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, dance and choir.

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Chaucer Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (71% in reading, 78% in maths).

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

Across Derbyshire, 95% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Derbyshire lodged 161 appeals against primary school offers; 108 reached a hearing and 13 succeeded (12% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Chaucer Junior School are Chaucer Infant School (0.1 miles); Larklands Infant School (0.5 miles, Good); Charlotte Nursery and Infant School (0.6 miles, Outstanding); and St Thomas Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 82% reading, 85% maths).

Chaucer Junior 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.

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chaucer Junior School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 88% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (88%).

48.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 56 pupils (24%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Ilkeston Rail Station, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wood Street (opposite), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Chaucer Junior School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 286 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 Junior School issued 10 suspensions, 4.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Chaucer Junior School are Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy (0.5 miles), Kirk Hallam Community Academy (1 mile) and Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy (1.2 miles).