As 2026 begins, we have created a ranking of best and worst performing Derbyshire primary schools, based on the latest Department of Education data.
The data includes Key Stage 2 performance data, based on pupils’ SAT results in the 2024/25 school year.
We have ranked the schools based on the proportion of students meeting the ‘expected standard’ in the 2024/25 school year.
Pupils meet the expected standard if they achieve a scaled score of 100 or more in their reading and maths Key Stage 2 SATs exams, and their teacher assesses them as 'working at the expected standard' or better in writing.
On average, 59% of pupils met the expected standard across Derbyshire in 2025 and and 62% nationally.
This league table includes these Derbyshire primary schools, which saw at least 80% of their Key Stage 2 pupils meet the expected standard in 2025 and have been rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding by Ofsted.
From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools – however inspectors still provide rating for each of key categories inspected including: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision as well as leadership and management.
The ranking includes schools with 10 best and worst expected standard results in 2025.
Schools which had less than 10 pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 are not included in the ranking. This is because schools with fewer than 10 pupils in Y6 are not required to publish their SAT results.
The league table does not include schools located in Derby.
17. Tansley Primary School
Tansley Primary School in Tansley saw 23% of pupils meet the government’s expected standard in reading, writing and maths. This is the sixth worst score in the county in 2025. Pupils achieved an average score of 99 in reading and 100 in maths. 8% achieved a higher standard. The school, located at School Road in Peak Dale, had 13 key stage 2 pupils on the roll. The school was visited by Ofsted in May 2022 when inspectors found that Tansley Primary School 'continues to be a good school'. Photo: Google
18. Pottery Primary School
Pottery Primary School at Kilbourne Road in Belper also saw 23% of its pupils meet expected standards for reading, writing and maths in 2025. It's the sixth lowest result in Derbyshire. The school had 40 pupils at the end of key stage 2. In its most recent Ofsted report, published in January 2024, Pottery Primary School was rated as 'requires improvement'. While the quality of education and leadership and management require improvement, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and early years provision are rated as 'good'. The school was previously rated as 'good'. Photo: Google
19. Peak Dale Primary School
Peak Dale Primary School saw 21% of pupils meet the government’s expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2025, while none achieved a higher standard. This is the third worst result in the county. Three Derbyshire schools had this result in 2025. The Peak Dale Primary, located at School Road in Peak Dale, had 14 key stage 2 pupils on the roll. The school was visited by Ofsted in October 2024. The following key judgments were made by Ofsted inspectors in a report published in November last year: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, as well as the early years provision were named 'good'. Photo: Google
20. Marlpool Junior School
In the 2024/25 school year 21% of pupils at Marlpool Junior School, met the government’s expected standard in reading, writing and maths. None achieved a higher standard. Pupils achieved an average score of 98 in reading and 97 in maths. The school, located at at Claramount Road in Heanor, had 29 pupils at the end of key stage 2 in 2025. The primary was rated 'good' by Ofsted following an inspection carried out in October 2022. Photo: Google