Denby Free CofE VA Primary School, Ripley

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Denby Free CofE VA Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 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 promote the importance of regular attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders make the early years a priority, ensuring children make a sound start to their education."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a highly inclusive school culture."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school experienced significant turbulence following the last inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' personal development is at the heart of the school's work."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' experiences of the curriculum are inconsistent, hindering their achievement."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have taken appropriate action to strengthen the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the mathematics curriculum is well sequenced and that teaching approaches enable pupils to build securely on their mathematical knowledge over time"; "Leaders should support staff to deliver the school's curriculum effectively so that they consider pupils' starting points and age-related needs consistently well and provide suitable learning activities"; "Leaders should ensure that assessment and feedback consistently supports pupils to secure foundational knowledge in transcription and mathematics, addressing promptly inaccuracies, misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use individual support plans for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make consistently effective adaptations that enable these pupils to thrive".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Denby Free CofE (VA) Primary School, we are proud to be a small, village primary school with a rich history dating back to 1728. As a Voluntary Aided school, we have a strong connection to the Church of England, which plays an active role in the life of our school community."

Coming up: an open day on Monday 9 November 2026 at 2pm, an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 6.30pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Denby Free CofE VA 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 were similar in 2024 (85% in reading, 85% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Denby Free CofE VA Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Denby Free CofE VA Primary School are Horsley Woodhouse Primary School (1 mile, Good, 64% reading, 64% maths); Kilburn Infant and Nursery School (1.2 miles, Good); Kilburn Junior School (1.2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 65% maths); and Richardson Endowed Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 70% maths).

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

9.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Denby Free CofE VA Primary School had 9 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 Langley Mill Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (adjacent), 10 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 10 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).

In 2024/25, Denby Free CofE VA Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Denby Free CofE VA Primary School are John Flamsteed Community School (0.9 miles) and Heanor Gate Spencer Academy (1.5 miles).