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Highfield Hall Primary School, Chesterfield

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 3–11

Highfield Hall Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Chesterfield. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 38th-highest of the 48 schools in Chesterfield with published results, and 12,107th of 14,452 across England. It was 86% full in 2025.

SATs results
Below England average
Ofsted
Good (2016)
Demand
Every first choice offered
Attendance
In line with England
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

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

Highfield Hall Primary School in detail

Highfield Hall Primary School in its own words

From the headteacher's welcome: "Within this EYFS Statutory Framework (2024) there are four guiding principles which shape are practice. These are: 1. Every child is a unique child , who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured. 2. Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships . 3."

The school runs after-school care.

Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)

Source: The school's own website

Results

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Highfield Hall Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 70% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

Getting a place at Highfield Hall Primary School

For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Highfield Hall Primary School as their first choice and 81 named it as one of their preferences, for 36 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Admissions history and your chances at Highfield Hall Primary School

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state primary schools to Highfield Hall Primary School are Christ Church CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); Newbold CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 87% maths); Abercrombie Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 90% reading, 93% maths); and Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 49% reading, 51% maths).

Highfield Hall Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Christ Church CofE Primary SchoolNewbold CofE Primary SchoolAbercrombie Primary SchoolDunston Primary and Nursery Academy

What parents say

69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Highfield Hall Primary School (as of September 2025): 65% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 41% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (41%).

Who goes there

7.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Getting there

The nearest railway station is Chesterfield Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mansfeldt Road (opposite), 240 metres away.

The area around the school

In August 2026, police recorded 353 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

In 2024/25, Highfield Hall Primary School issued 19 suspensions, 4.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

Secondary schools nearby

The secondary schools closest to Highfield Hall Primary School are Outwood Academy Newbold (0.2 miles); St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles); Brookfield Community School (1.8 miles); and Whittington Green School (1.8 miles).

Outwood Academy NewboldSt Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary AcademyBrookfield Community SchoolWhittington Green School

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 GIAS
Head:Dr Michael Bywaters
Pupils:375
LA:Derbyshire
Phone:01246273534
Address:Highfield Hall Primary School, Highfield Lane, Chesterfield, S41 8AZ
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 2 years ago

This judgement is from March 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.

-

Overall

Latest (ungraded) inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.

Inspected 4 February 2025View full report
URN:112667
UKPRN:10070873
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Chesterfield
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.

What This School Does Well

Highfield Hall is a caring, inclusive school where every child is valued. Teachers explain concepts clearly and pupils enjoy learning to read, with strong early years provision setting children up well. The school is particularly strong at supporting pupils' emotional health and well-being, helping them manage their feelings and look out for their peers.

Key Strengths

  • Strong emotional health and well-being support, including use of therapy dog Nugget
  • Secure teacher subject knowledge with clear explanations and good use of subject-specific vocabulary
  • Effective support for pupils with SEND, including individualised curriculums
  • Positive behaviour and respectful relationships throughout the school
  • Strong early years provision that gives children a good start

Areas for Improvement

  • Curriculum is not implemented as effectively as intended - pupils struggle to connect knowledge and recall what they have learned over time
  • Staff expectations of fundamental English skills (letter formation, spelling, grammar) are not consistently high enough, hindering pupils' writing progress
  • Pupils do not get sufficient opportunities to rehearse and recall key knowledge in some subjects

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Extracurricular Activities

Various clubs at lunchtimes and after school, reading therapy dog sessions

Highfield Hall Primary School is a nurturing school where pupils are at the heart of everything. However, evidence suggests that some areas of the curriculum are not being implemented as effectively as before, and the school's next inspection will be graded.

At a Glance

31.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

69 responses
Would recommend65%
Child is happy88%
Child does well87%
High expectations57%
Feels safe86%
Well behaved68%
Bullying dealt with (of parents with a view)41%
Kept informed70%
Handles concerns (of parents who raised one)48%
Wider development64%

Source: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-6ppMaths-3ppWriting-1pp

Reading has declined from 70% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 59% (2024 to 2025).

Class Sizes

23.4

Avg class size

23.7

Infant (KS1)

24.8

KS2

16

Total classes

2025/26 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools

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Social & online

Keep up with Highfield Hall Primary School

Term dates

Highfield Hall 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)

Source: Derbyshire term dates

Getting There

Bus Stops

Mansfeldt Road (opp)
238m · 4 min walk
Community School (opp)
253m · 4 min walk
Lucas Road (Adj)
267m · 4 min walk
Highfield Lane (Opp)
268m · 4 min walk
Gloucester Avenue (opp)
294m · 5 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to Highfield Hall Primary School from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. Highfield Hall Primary School is in Derbyshire; for families living there:

Safety and surroundings

Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)

Collisions
19
Fatal
0
Serious
4
Children hurt
1

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight.

1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.

8 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.

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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at Highfield Hall Primary School

Will you get a place at Highfield Hall Primary School? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against Highfield Hall Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for Highfield Hall Primary School:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to Highfield Hall 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 Highfield Hall Primary School for 2014 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

86%

Available places

362 pupils

420 places

58 spare places in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - Chesterfield

Medium pressure
New homes approved:3,447
Projected new pupils:862

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Chesterfield

Across Derbyshire council

Low demand council-wide0.73 applications per place

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(9)

4 February 2025

Ungraded inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.

20 November 2019
8 March 2016
Leadership & ManagementGood

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

54

SEN Support

13

EHC Plans

17.9%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

No specialist provision recorded

Pupils by Need Type

Social, Emotional & Mental Health26
Speech, Language & Communication15
Autistic Spectrum Disorder14
Moderate Learning Difficulty8
Other2
Severe Learning Difficulty1
Hearing Impairment1
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
85.6%
Asian
3.4%
Black
2.4%
Mixed
2.9%
Other
2.9%
Unclassified
1.1%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals31.5%
English as Additional Language7.2%

375

Total Pupils

197

Boys

178

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

20

Teachers

18.8:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£52,190

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£5,561

Per pupil

£2272k

Total funding

£171k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£250,597
EAL funding£15,009
Lump sum£144,114

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.2%

Overall absence

12.4%

Persistent absence

330

Enrolments

Authorised4.7%
Unauthorised1.5%
Persistent (10%+)12.4%
Severe (50%+)2.7%

Absence trend

5.1%
18/19
4.0%
20/21
8.5%
21/22
7.2%
22/23
7.2%
23/24
6.2%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Questions parents ask about Highfield Hall Primary School

What are SATs results like at Highfield Hall Primary School?

Of the pupils at Highfield Hall Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.

What is Highfield Hall Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Highfield Hall Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2016, it was rated Good.

What is the catchment area for Highfield Hall Primary School?

No fixed boundary. When Highfield Hall 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 Highfield Hall Primary School?

Highfield Hall Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 420 places.

How big are the classes at Highfield Hall Primary School?

Classes at Highfield Hall Primary School average 23.4 pupils (2025/26).

How many pupils go to Highfield Hall Primary School?

Highfield Hall Primary School has around 375 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.

What is attendance like at Highfield Hall Primary School?

6.2% of sessions were missed at Highfield Hall Primary School in 2024/25. 12.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to Highfield Hall Primary School?

Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Highfield Hall 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 Highfield Hall Primary School's term dates?

Highfield Hall 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).

How many road collisions happen near Highfield Hall Primary School?

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 15 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 8 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 Highfield Hall Primary School?

Highfield Hall Primary School is at Highfield Hall Primary School, Highfield Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8AZ.

Sources: Derbyshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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