Harpur Hill Primary School has closed (Thursday 30 April 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Harpur Hill Primary School.
Harpur Hill Primary School, Buxton
Harpur Hill Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Buxton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 8 schools in Buxton with published results, and 12,253rd of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Derbyshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Harpur Hill Primary School in detail
Harpur Hill Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir, guitar and cooking.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Derbyshire
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Harpur Hill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% 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 (63% in reading, 63% in maths).
Getting a place at Harpur Hill Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 46 families put Harpur Hill Primary School as their first choice and 77 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 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 Harpur Hill Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Harpur Hill Primary School are Harpur Hill Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Buxton Junior School (0.5 miles, Good, 70% reading, 73% maths); Buxton Junior School (0.5 miles); and Buxton Infant School (0.9 miles, Good).
Harpur Hill Primary SchoolBuxton Junior SchoolBuxton Junior SchoolBuxton Infant School
What parents say
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harpur Hill Primary School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Buxton Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Trent Avenue (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 123 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Harpur Hill 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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
25.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
56 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 improved from 63% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 60% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 66% to 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.3
Avg class size
23.0
Infant (KS1)
25.7
KS2
12
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Harpur Hill Primary School
Term dates
Harpur Hill Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Derbyshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Wednesday 22 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Thursday 6 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Harpur Hill Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Harpur Hill 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
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Harpur Hill Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
282 pupils
350 places
68 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Buxton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Buxton
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(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
49
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
21.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
292
Total Pupils
146
Boys
146
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
16.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,469
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,248
Per pupil
£1724k
Total funding
£120k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
11.7%
Persistent absence
248
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Harpur Hill Primary School
What are SATs results like at Harpur Hill Primary School?
Of the pupils at Harpur Hill Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 60% did so in maths.
What is Harpur Hill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Harpur Hill Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Harpur Hill Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Harpur Hill 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 Harpur Hill Primary School?
Harpur Hill Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 350 places.
How big are the classes at Harpur Hill Primary School?
Classes at Harpur Hill Primary School average 24.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Harpur Hill Primary School?
Harpur Hill Primary School has around 292 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Harpur Hill Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Harpur Hill Primary School in 2024/25. 11.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Harpur Hill Primary School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Harpur Hill 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.
What are Harpur Hill Primary School's term dates?
Harpur Hill Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Derbyshire. In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Wednesday 22 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Thursday 6 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
Where is Harpur Hill Primary School?
Harpur Hill Primary School is at Trent Avenue, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9LP.
Source: Derbyshire term dates