Lea Primary School, Matlock
Lea Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Matlock. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 16 schools in Matlock with published results, and 2,822nd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 113% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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 27 Oct 2026
Lea Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Lea Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 80% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Lea Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Lea Primary School as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Lea Primary School are Cromford Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 43% reading, 43% maths); Tansley Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 31% reading, 62% maths); Matlock Bath Holy Trinity CofE Controlled Primary School (1.8 miles, Good); and Crich Carr CofE Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 92% reading, 75% maths).
Lea Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Cromford Church of England Primary SchoolTansley Primary SchoolMatlock Bath Holy Trinity CofE Controlled Primary SchoolCrich Carr CofE Primary School
Who goes there
7.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 4 pupils (3.1%) received SEN support and 2 (1.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cromford Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (adjacent), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, public order offences and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lea Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils and parents and carers are full of praise for this vibrant and happy school. Parents wholeheartedly support the school's ethos. They typically say that their children thrive because of the 'fantastic culture where children are excited to excel', describing the school as 'an asset of the community'. Pupils appreciate the interesting lessons and the wide range of activities such as outdoor learning, trips and sports.
A love of learning is at the heart of the school. In lessons, pupils are attentive and enthusiastic learners. In discussion, many pupils could explain their learning with confidence. They demonstrate a mature and sophisticated understanding of the curriculum. Pupils who require extra support receive the help they need to access the full curriculum. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those who speak English as an additional language. Standards of achievement in English and mathematics tests are at least in line with the national average, and often above.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a well-established curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils to develop secure knowledge and skills in all subjects. The school successfully draws on the specialist subject expertise of the staff across the federation. This means that the curriculum has been carefully planned and sequenced and adapted to the school's context. For example, pupils are proud of their local heritage as a school founded by Florence Nightingale. They enjoy receiving visitors and learning about the local National Tramway Museum and the Cromford UNESCO World Heritage site. The curriculum strongly supports pupils to embody the school's vision to 'embrace the love of learning and enjoy coming to school'.
In lessons, staff use their expert subject knowledge to provide stimulating activities designed to help pupils apply what they know to new concepts. Any uncertainty is quickly spotted and discussed, through teachers' regular checks on pupils' understanding. Pupils develop qualities of resilience and determination. Their attitudes to learning are impressive, as observed in a range of subjects and lessons including mathematics, science, history and physical education.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
7.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 80% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 65% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
19.4
Avg class size
17.0
Infant (KS1)
20.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Lea Primary School
Term dates
Lea 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 Lea Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lea 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
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Lea Primary School
Will you get a place at Lea Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Lea Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Lea Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Lea 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 Lea 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
113%
Over capacity
135 pupils
119 places
16 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Matlock
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Matlock
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
4.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
128
Total Pupils
73
Boys
55
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
16.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,610
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,542
Per pupil
£820k
Total funding
£15k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.2%
Overall absence
2.5%
Persistent absence
122
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Lea Primary School
What are SATs results like at Lea Primary School?
Of the pupils at Lea Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 89% did so in maths.
What is Lea Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Lea Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for Lea Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Lea 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 Lea Primary School?
Lea Primary School was full in 2025, at 113% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Lea Primary School?
Classes at Lea Primary School average 19.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Lea Primary School?
Lea Primary School has around 128 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Lea Primary School?
3.2% of sessions were missed at Lea Primary School in 2024/25. 2.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lea Primary School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Lea 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 Lea Primary School's term dates?
Lea 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 Lea Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lea Primary School?
Lea Primary School is at Church Street, Lea, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5JP.
Sources: Derbyshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)