Best Primary Schools in Derby 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 73 schools across Derby. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Derby has 73 open primary schools. Of the 72 with a published Ofsted inspection, 6 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 86% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Castleward Spencer Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Derby follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

73
Total schools
6
Outstanding (historic grade)
8%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
57.6%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Castleward Spencer Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Lawn Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
🥉 Griffe Field Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
4. St George's Catholic Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
5. Parkview Primary School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
6. Pear Tree Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
7. Rosehill Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
8. Portway Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
9. Alvaston Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. Shelton Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Cavendish Close Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Ridgeway Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Oakwood Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
14. St James' Church of England Aided Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. Derby St Chad's CofE Nursery and Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. Carlyle Infant and Nursery Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. Gayton Junior School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
18. Redwood Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
19. Hackwood Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
20. Homefields Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Derby

Best primary schools in DerbyTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in DerbyTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in DerbyPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in DerbyYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in NottinghamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DerbyshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NottinghamshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeicestershireCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Derby?
There are 73 open primary schools in Derby (closed schools are excluded). 6 of the 72 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Derby?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Derby is Castleward Spencer Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Derby?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Derby?
Primary and secondary applications in Derby are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Derby council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.