Bennerley Fields School
Stratford Street, Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, DE7 8QZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Bennerley Fields School is a special school in Ilkeston for ages 2 to 16. It is one of the 449 schools in Derbyshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 17 January 2023, report published 8 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 17 January 2023
Pupils have given an enthusiastic thumbs up to this much-loved school. They are very happy to attend. Staff are caring and supportive. Parents and carers appreciate the expert help staff give them and their children. One parent reflected the views of others when they stated, 'Staff are empathetic, understanding, caring, very supportive and work holistically to ensure my child has a great learning experience every single day.' Pupils say they feel safe. Leaders have high ambitions for all pupils. They support all pupils to understand each other's feelings and to engage with other pupils and adults in a positive way. Leaders want pupils to play an active part in their community. The 'Beyond Bennerley' curriculum prepares pupils well for their next stage of learning and for adult life. Staff support pupils to communicate their needs in a variety of ways. They know the causes of distress for each pupil so they can intervene early to help pupils remain calm. Pupils are polite and respectful around the school. They offer a warm welcome to visitors. They look after each other and play well together. Pupils are certain that if bullying were to happen, staff would deal with it quickly and effectively.
What the school should improve
- Leaders have not clearly identified the knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn and when in a small number of subjects. This limits opportunities for some pupils to develop their understanding securely. Leaders need to ensure that teachers know what they should teach and when in each subject so that pupils fully develop their understanding over time.
- Leaders have not yet fully embedded a coherent assessment system that encompasses both the small steps of progress laid out in the curriculum and the targets contained in pupils' EHC plans. This means the targets that teachers set for pupils are not always the most important or valid next steps. Leaders need to ensure that the targets that teachers set for pupils provide accurate and timely steps that build towards the outcomes in pupils' EHC plans.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
9 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
105 pupils on roll, with places for 95
Schools near Bennerley Fields School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Education | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Progression 2 Work | 2 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Jasmine House School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Westbury Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 5.8 |
| Silver Linings School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy special converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ESTEEM MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jennifer Wright
- Phone
- 01159326374
- Address
- Stratford Street, Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, DE7 8QZ
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- URN
- 146052
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.