Lakeside Primary Academy, Derby
Lakeside Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Derby, part of The Harmony Trust Ltd. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 61st-highest of the 86 schools in Derby with published results, and 12,107th of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Derby (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lakeside Primary Academy in detail
Lakeside Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "At Lakeside Primary Academy we strive to be an inclusive school and aim to nurture and celebrate the gifts and talents in each and every one of us, ensuring that every child reaches their potential, both now and for the future."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils at Lakeside Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Derby and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 51% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Lakeside Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Lakeside Primary Academy as their first choice and 69 named it as one of their preferences, for 35 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 Lakeside Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Lakeside Primary Academy are Zaytouna Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 70% maths); Ashwood Spencer Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 72% reading, 69% maths); Wyndham Spencer Academy (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 67% reading, 73% maths); and St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy (1 mile, Good, 76% reading, 61% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Lakeside Primary Academy.
Zaytouna Primary SchoolAshwood Spencer AcademyWyndham Spencer AcademySt John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy
The trust
Lakeside Primary Academy is one of 17 schools run by The Harmony Trust Ltd, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
78 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lakeside Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 71% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).
Who goes there
44.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 38.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (47%), Black (13%) and Asian (11%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Derby Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Alvaston Park (opposite), 120 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lakeside Primary Academy issued 8 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Lakeside Primary Academy are UTC Derby Pride Park (0.9 miles), Alvaston Moor Academy (1.1 miles) and West Park School (1.7 miles).
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Lakeside is a warm, welcoming school where children quickly feel they belong and develop strong friendships with excellent behaviour and manners. The school excels at making reading exciting through creative author-themed classrooms and builds pupils' confidence as learners. Staff are caring role models who support pupils' personal growth and teach them to be responsible, respectful citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong, caring environment where pupils feel safe and develop good behaviour and attitudes
- Well-organised curriculum with clear sequencing that builds knowledge logically over time
- Excellent approach to reading and fostering a love of books through author-themed classrooms and engaging story times
- Effective personal development programme through the 'Harmony Pledge' that develops responsible, active citizens
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching of the curriculum is not consistently effective across all subjects - teachers need better skills to help pupils know and remember what they learn
- Phonics teaching beyond early years lacks sufficient expertise, leaving too many pupils unable to read fluently and confidently
- A small number of pupils with SEND do not receive a broad and balanced curriculum
- Parent communication needs improvement - some parents feel the school does not communicate as well as expected
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a safe environment where pupils trust staff.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, after-school club, junior leaders roles, school council, fundraising activities
Lakeside Primary Academy is a caring school where pupils feel safe and behaviour has improved significantly since the last inspection. However, the quality of education requires improvement as pupils are not achieving well enough across all subjects.
At a Glance
44.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
78 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 51% to 59% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 60% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 63% to 57% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.2
Avg class size
23.1
Infant (KS1)
25.8
KS2
22
Total classes
1 class 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 Lakeside Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Lakeside Primary Academy.
- Nj Out Of School Club240m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lakeside Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lakeside Primary Academy is in Derby; for families living there:
Apply to Derby for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 32
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 22 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 on a bicycle.
5 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 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 Lakeside Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Lakeside Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lakeside Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lakeside Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lakeside Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Derby, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Lakeside Primary Academy for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Derby 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
90%
Near capacity
567 pupils
630 places
63 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Derby
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Derby
Across Derby council
Places available
3,564
Applications
2,643
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Derby council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
116
SEN Support
29
EHC Plans
26.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
543
Total Pupils
278
Boys
265
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
16.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,393
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,130
Per pupil
£3905k
Total funding
£359k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.2%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
552
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Lakeside Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Lakeside Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Lakeside Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Lakeside Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 59% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Lakeside Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Lakeside Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Lakeside Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Lakeside Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Derby allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Lakeside Primary Academy?
Lakeside Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 630 places.
How big are the classes at Lakeside Primary Academy?
Classes at Lakeside Primary Academy average 24.2 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Lakeside Primary Academy?
Lakeside Primary Academy has around 543 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lakeside Primary Academy?
6.2% of sessions were missed at Lakeside Primary Academy in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lakeside Primary Academy?
Apply through Derby's coordinated admissions process, naming Lakeside Primary Academy 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 Lakeside Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Lakeside Primary Academy: Nj Out Of School Club (240m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Lakeside Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 22 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 on a bicycle. 5 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 Derby is 24 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lakeside Primary Academy?
Lakeside Primary Academy is at 877 London Road, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 8UY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)