Spire Junior School, Chesterfield

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Spire Junior School on 6 areas: 1 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the personal development curriculum is adapted to meet the school's changing context."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils do not achieve well in reading, writing or mathematics by the end of key stage 2."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders prioritise attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have ensured that a well-sequenced curriculum is in place."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders are aware of the barriers that some pupils face to their learning and wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders and those responsible for governance know the school, the community and pupils well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders, including governors, should ensure that they act swiftly to bring about the necessary improvement to the school's provision, in line with their priorities. They should monitor this work, to establish its impact and to develop or refine it further, as and when appropriate"; "Leaders should ensure that all teachers accurately identify any misconceptions or barriers to learning that pupils may have, especially in reading and writing. They should use this information to assist them to adapt the curriculum and teaching appropriately, to enable all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils, to progress in their learning"; "Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded and consistent across the school so that pupils progress and achieve well in all subjects of the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff have consistently high expectations of pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning and that positive behaviours are taught and modelled".

In its own words: "At Spire Junior School, our children are taught about the British Values and how to uphold them."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 46% of Year 6 pupils at Spire Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 69% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

Across Derbyshire, 95% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Derbyshire lodged 161 appeals against primary school offers; 108 reached a hearing and 13 succeeded (12% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Spire Junior School are Spire Nursery and Infant School (0.3 miles, Good); Walton Peak Flying High Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 90% reading, 95% maths); William Rhodes Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, 45% reading, 52% maths); and Hasland Infant School (0.7 miles, Good).

Spire Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

60.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Black (8%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 30 pupils (19.5%) received SEN support and 11 (7.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Chesterfield Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tesco Express (opposite), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 479 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Spire Junior School issued 9 suspensions, 5.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Spire Junior School are Parkside Community School (0.6 miles), Outwood Academy Hasland Hall (1 mile) and Brookfield Community School (1.8 miles).