Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School, Matlock
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Matlock, part of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 16 schools in Matlock with published results, and 5,775th of 14,452 across England. It was 44% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Derbyshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School in detail
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are delighted to welcome you to our school family. Please take some time to browse our site. Starting or changing schools is one of the most important times in a child's life and we aim to support you as a family to feel at home as quickly as possible."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 100% in reading and 100% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 14 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School are Darley Dale Primary School (1 mile, Good, 80% reading, 83% maths); South Darley CofE Primary School (1 mile, Good, 75% reading, 56% maths); Stanton-in-Peak CofE Primary School (1.7 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 89% maths); and Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 100% reading, 90% maths).
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Darley Dale Primary SchoolSouth Darley CofE Primary SchoolStanton-in-Peak CofE Primary SchoolRowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School
The trust
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School 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.
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
61% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (22%) received SEN support and 2 (4.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Darley Dale (Peak Rail), about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Butts (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 20 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).
Suspensions and exclusions
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school excels at building strong relationships where pupils thrive and feel valued. Reading is a priority with expert teaching, and the curriculum is carefully designed to build knowledge over time while supporting pupils' personal development and understanding of the world. Pupils benefit from an impressive range of memorable experiences that develop their character and resilience.
Key Strengths
- Expert phonics teaching helps most pupils learn to read quickly, with extra support for those who need it
- Well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge step-by-step, resulting in high-quality written work
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, helping them work confidently alongside their peers
- Extensive enrichment activities including residential trips, theatre visits, and community charity work
- Positive behaviour and high attendance with caring staff who know all pupils well
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not consistently check pupils' understanding during lessons, meaning some misconceptions are not corrected quickly enough
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips, theatre visits, sporting events, '11 things before 11' character-building activities, charity fundraising, community events including carol singing at care homes, visits to different places of worship
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is a small school with big aspirations that has maintained its good standards. Pupils enjoy a welcoming environment with high expectations, strong relationships, and an ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
61.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
10 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 100% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 100% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
13.7
Avg class size
14.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
Improvements to school building
21 Sep 2026
Sunflower planting
22 Jun 2026
Huge Investment in School Site ahead of Nursery Launch
15 Apr 2026
After School Club Launched
11 Feb 2026
Recycling Team Visit
3 Feb 2026
Snow Closure - Friday 9th January 2026
9 Jan 2026
From Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Derbyshire
Term dates
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Derbyshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is in Derbyshire; for families living there:
- Derbyshire's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy 2026 to 2027 - 465KB
- How to apply: Apply for home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Derbyshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Derbyshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
44%
Available places
47 pupils
106 places
59 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Matlock
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Matlock
Across Derbyshire council
Places available
9,875
Applications
7,189
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Derbyshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
26.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
41
Total Pupils
19
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
13.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,901
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,112
Per pupil
£484k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
21.3%
Persistent absence
47
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Derbyshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 44% of its 106 places.
How big are the classes at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School average 13.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School has around 41 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 21.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School?
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School is at Church Road, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2GL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)