Denby Free CofE VA Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 May 2026

Pupils are happy. They and their families receive a warm welcome at the gate each morning. Pupils are safe. They show a secure sense of belonging and loyalty to their school. Pupils and their parents and carers would highly recommend this school. Parents say the school is ‘a family at the heart of the community’. They speak highly of the school’s nurturing staff. Parents recognise the numerous ways that staff support pupils when they need help to overcome any barriers to their learning or wellbeing. Pupils skip into school, eager to show their readiness for learning. They take good care of each other, knowing respect means being kind. Bullying is very rare. The school’s rules and Christian values guide pupils well. Pupils say that the values help them become better people. They aspire to become ‘flourish and shine ambassadors’ to show that they exemplify the values consistently. Older pupils enjoy chaperoning the Reception Year children when they go to the church for celebration assemblies, where they proudly receive certificates for their positive behaviour. Pupils attend well. They enjoy school because they find it fun as well as friendly. Pupils appreciate the many opportunities to try new experiences and build their character. For example, they take on challenges in many sporting competitions or on adventurous school trips. Year 6 pupils build their independence ready for secondary school on residential visits. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about improvements following the school’s turbulent time after the last inspection. The school is very settled now and pupils’ attainment in national tests is improving. While leaders have improved the curriculum and teaching, some of their work is at an early stage or not embedded. Leaders know there is more to do and are striving to ensure that all pupils achieve as well as they should.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the mathematics curriculum is well sequenced and that teaching approaches enable pupils to build securely on their mathematical knowledge over time.
• Leaders should support staff to deliver the school’s curriculum effectively so that they consider pupils’ starting points and age-related needs consistently well and provide suitable learning activities.
• Leaders should ensure that assessment and feedback consistently supports pupils to secure foundational knowledge in transcription and mathematics, addressing promptly inaccuracies, misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ knowledge.
• Leaders should ensure that staff use individual support plans for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make consistently effective adaptations that enable these pupils to thrive.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)