Peak Dale Primary School, Buxton
Peak Dale Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Buxton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 8 schools in Buxton with published results, and 14,242nd of 14,452 across England. It was 86% 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 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
Peak Dale Primary School in detail
Peak Dale Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Peak Dale Primary School is a friendly school located 10 minutes from Buxton. There is a strong working village community which is supportive of the school. Although we are a small school, we work and learn as part of a Federation of schools. For our staff this means they have access to peer-to-peer support and enhanced training and development opportunities."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Peak Dale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 36% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 80% in reading and 30% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Peak Dale Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Peak Dale Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 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 Peak Dale Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Peak Dale Primary School are Dove Holes CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 75% maths); St Peter's Church of England (VC) Junior School (2 miles, Good, 72% reading, 64% maths); Fairfield Infant and Nursery School (2.1 miles); and Fairfield Infant and Nursery School (2.1 miles, Good).
Dove Holes CofE Primary SchoolSt Peter's Church of England (VC) Junior SchoolFairfield Infant and Nursery SchoolFairfield Infant and Nursery School
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 15 pupils (19.5%) received SEN support and 1 (1.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Peak Dale Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dove Holes Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Club (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Peak Dale Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.3 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; DfE school workforce census; 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
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?
This small village school is 'full of heart'. It has a shared vision for all its pupils to achieve highly, both academically and in their personal development. Pupils work hard to fulfil these expectations. The school wants to ensure that every child is well prepared for their next stage in education, as well as for life in wider society.
Every pupil benefits from 'curriculum gift' experiences during their time at the school. They enjoy opportunities to create art on canvas, participate in sports events and perform poetry to live audiences at local theatres. There is a keen focus on pupils learning outside to support their physical and mental health.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has undergone a period of rapid change. It now has a well-considered curriculum that is ordered in a logical way. Subjects link together in a cohesive manner. Pupils learn and build their knowledge gradually so that they are ready for the next stage of their learning. The school supports staff to develop their expertise so that they can deliver the whole curriculum consistently well.
The early reading programme is taught well. In addition, the school provides parents with useful information to help their children read at home. Most pupils learn how sounds can be put together to make words. Those who need additional help have a specific programme that is matched to their needs. As a result, most pupils learn to read with accuracy and fluency. The spelling and writing curriculum are closely aligned with what pupils can read. Pupils often apply their reading knowledge to their writing as a result.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded 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 Good at its February 2019 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
16.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 80% to 50% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 30% to 36% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 50% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
19.3
Avg class size
18.5
Infant (KS1)
20.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Peak Dale Primary School
Term dates
Peak Dale 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 Peak Dale Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Peak Dale 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)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Peak Dale Primary School
Will you get a place at Peak Dale Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Peak Dale Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Peak Dale Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Peak Dale 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 Peak Dale 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
77 pupils
90 places
13 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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
20.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
77
Total Pupils
41
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
9.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,871
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,772
Per pupil
£606k
Total funding
£17k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
10.4%
Persistent absence
67
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Peak Dale Primary School
What are SATs results like at Peak Dale Primary School?
Of the pupils at Peak Dale Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% reached the expected standard in reading and 36% did so in maths.
What is Peak Dale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Peak Dale Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 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 Peak Dale Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Peak Dale 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 Peak Dale Primary School?
Peak Dale Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 90 places.
How big are the classes at Peak Dale Primary School?
Classes at Peak Dale Primary School average 19.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Peak Dale Primary School?
Peak Dale Primary School has around 77 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Peak Dale Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Peak Dale Primary School in 2024/25. 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Peak Dale Primary School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Peak Dale 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 Peak Dale Primary School's term dates?
Peak Dale 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 Peak Dale Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Peak Dale Primary School?
Peak Dale Primary School is at School Road, Peak Dale, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8AJ.
Sources: Derbyshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)