Denton Primary School, Northampton

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Denton 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 have clear systems and processes in place to support pupils to attend regularly."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that children get off to a positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify and assess the needs of pupils effectively."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, know the school, the community and pupils well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development curriculum is well sequenced."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Staff do not consistently model the agreed handwriting style."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have not ensured that staff consistently use their checks of what pupils already know to make the right adjustments to their teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment information to check what pupils already know, in particular when adapting learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They should ensure that activity choices support pupils to embed their learning. • Leaders should ensure that teachers identify gaps in pupils' learning to improve all aspects of pupils' writing, including letter formation and handwriting. • Leaders should continue to develop high-quality interactions between adults and children in the early years".

In its own words: "Our vision is to be the best that we can be. We celebrate being resilient and courageous, aspirational and resourceful, imaginative and creative. We embrace difference, value individuality and collaborate within our community. To provide a learning environment where children are happy, emotionally secure and enjoy coming to school."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include basketball, multi-sports, running, choir and gardening.

The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.

Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Denton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in West Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 92% in reading and 100% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Denton Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 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 Denton Primary School are Yardley Hastings Primary School (1.6 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 93% maths); Cogenhoe Primary School (1.8 miles, 87% reading, 73% maths); Little Houghton Church of England Primary (2.3 miles, Good, 69% reading, 81% maths); and Grendon Church of England Primary School (2.8 miles, Outstanding, 87% reading, 93% maths).

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

18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Denton Primary School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school and 89% say their child is happy there.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (89%).

7.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 6 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 3 (3.6%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Denton Primary School.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Orchard Lane (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90).

Denton Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.