Pottery Primary School, Belper

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Pottery Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school has strengthened its approach to attendance through clearer systems, closer checks and earlier action for pupils at risk of absence."

Early years - Expected standard. "Early years is a welcoming and well-organised environment where children settle quickly and enjoy learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders check pupils' needs early and use this information to plan support."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have focused on stabilising the school following a period of change."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Personal development sits at the centre of the school's work."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, outcomes for pupils at the end of Year 6 have been low."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The impact of curriculum and teaching on pupils' achievement is not yet secure."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the school's new systems and approaches to attendance, curriculum and behaviour continue to be implemented consistently, so that improvements are embedded securely and have a sustained and positive impact on pupils' outcomes"; "Leaders should ensure that their vision for inclusion is applied consistently across the school, so that pupils with gaps in their learning benefit from well-matched support, allowing them to achieve in line with their peers"; "Leaders should ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of pupils' transcriptional and foundational knowledge across the curriculum, so that pupils become increasingly fluent in these basic skills over time".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Pottery Primary school is a friendly and happy school where everyone feels valued and respected. The staff at Pottery strive to create a happy, safe, and engaging learning environment where all children can do their best and be successful. Pottery is an inclusive school where every child truly matters to us."

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Pottery Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 53% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 56% in reading and 46% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Pottery Primary School as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Pottery Primary School are St John's CofE Primary School and Nursery (0.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 68% maths); Herbert Strutt Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 82% reading, 86% maths); St Elizabeth's Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 90% maths); and Long Row Primary School (1 mile, Good, 73% reading, 67% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Pottery Primary School.

1.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 62 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 15 (5.3%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Belper Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pottery School (adjacent), 40 metres away.

In 2024/25, Pottery Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 2.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Pottery Primary School are Belper School and Sixth Form Centre (0.2 miles) and John Flamsteed Community School (1.5 miles).