Unstone Junior School, Dronfield

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 711

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~874m)Possible (~1.2km)Unlikely (~1.6km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Rachael Fowlds
Pupils:49 / 76 capacity
LA:Derbyshire
Phone:01246413109
Address:Main Road, Unstone, Dronfield, S18 4AB
Federation:Unstone Schools Federation
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:112642
UKPRN:10070680
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:North East Derbyshire
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Unstone Junior School creates a warm, welcoming environment where children are happy, behave well, and feel safe. The school prioritises pupils' wellbeing and emotional health, with strong pastoral support at the start of each day and consistent behaviour expectations. Pupils benefit from a rich range of after-school clubs and activities that develop their talents and interests.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils behave well and attend school regularly, with positive relationships built on trust and respect
  • Strong pastoral support and wellbeing provision that helps pupils feel safe and happy
  • Well-sequenced curriculum in some subjects like science where pupils enjoy learning and talk confidently about their progress
  • Clear behaviour expectations and calm, orderly learning environment free from disruption
  • Good enrichment offer including clubs and activities that develop pupils' talents and interests

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils at early stages of reading not supported effectively to develop fluency and accuracy, limiting access to wider curriculum
  • Gaps in writing, letter formation and handwriting not identified or closed
  • Teaching does not check what pupils already know or adapt to ensure all make progress
  • Leaders and governors lack accurate understanding of school's weaknesses and are not effectively holding each other to account
  • Inconsistent support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, with barriers to learning not being addressed

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Fencing club, art club, clarinet lessons, school council, after-school clubs

Unstone Junior School requires special measures due to failing to provide an acceptable standard of education, with significant weaknesses in curriculum quality and teaching despite pupils being happy, well-behaved, and attending well.

At a Glance

53.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+21ppMaths+7ppWriting+18pp

Reading has improved from 57% to 78%. Maths has improved from 71% to 78%. Writing has improved from 71% to 89%.

Class Sizes

29.5

Avg class size

29.5

KS2

2

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Crow Lane (on)
56m · 1 min walk
Community Hall (Adj)
222m · 4 min walk
Fleur De Lys (opp)
356m · 6 min walk
Loundes Road (adj)
372m · 6 min walk
St Marys Church (Adj)
437m · 7 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

64%

Available places

49 pupils

76 capacity

27 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Dronfield

Medium pressure
New homes approved:556
Projected new pupils:139

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dronfield

Admissions Demand - Derbyshire

Low demand0.73x oversubscription

Places available

9,886

Applications

7,225

Got 1st preference

96.4%

Got preferred school

99.2%

Primary admissions across Derbyshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(14)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.33687%

Overall absence

8.33333%

Persistent absence

60

Enrolments

Authorised3.53808%
Unauthorised1.79879%
Persistent (10%+)8.33333%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.83871%
18/19
5.48877%
20/21
7.1066%
21/22
7.6344%
22/23
6.32431%
23/24
5.33687%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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