Darley Dale Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Greenaway Lane, Hackney, Matlock, DE4 2QBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Darley Dale Primary School is a primary school in Matlock for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 449 schools in Derbyshire. It ranks 5th of 16 primary schools in Matlock. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2019.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 26 November 2019, report published 13 January 2020

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 January 2025

Darley Dale Primary School is a caring and inclusive school where everyone is welcomed. Pupils thrive in a supportive and aspirational environment. The school has high ambitions for pupils' achievements, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are enthusiastic about their learning and achieve well. Pupils feel safe at school. They know and value the school's principles of 'I RESPECT'. Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. As a result, classrooms are calm places where pupils can learn. Pupils listen carefully to what their teachers say and follow instructions quickly. Bullying happens very rarely. When it does happen, it is taken seriously and dealt with effectively. Pupils have access to extensive educational opportunities beyond the classroom. Residential trips are a particular highlight. Pupils speak excitedly about the range of visits, clubs and activities they participate in. A wide range of leadership roles, including as champions of safeguarding, charities and sports, enable pupils to make a tangible difference to the school community. These opportunities support the development of pupils' confidence, resilience and self-esteem well. Parents are very positive about the school. One parent, reflecting the views of many, said, 'A truly wonderful school. My child has thrived personally and academically at Darley Dale.'

What the school should improve

  • The school's approach to teaching writing is not yet fully developed. The quality of pupils' written work to communicate effectively to a range of audiences and for a variety of purposes is not as strong as it could be. The school should ensure that staff provide opportunities for pupils to use their writing skills across the curriculum so that they consistently achieve high standards.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths63%

63%, 1 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths13%

13%, 5 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score106

106, the same as the England average.

Maths, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score106

106, 1 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

214 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals22.4%

22.4%, 4.1 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language1.9%

1.9%, 19.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support10.7%

10.7%, 4.1 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.3%

3.3%, 2.7 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Darley Dale Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Darley Churchtown Church of England Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good70% met the expected standard
South Darley CofE Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good44% met the expected standard
All Saints CofE Junior School1 mileReport card: Strong standard86% met the expected standard
All Saints CofE Infant School1 mileOfsted: GoodNot published
St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy2 milesOfsted: Good37% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Miss Sarah Hudson
Address
Greenaway Lane, Hackney, Matlock, DE4 2QB
Local authority
Derbyshire
URN
112591

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.