Swanwick Primary School

Swanwick Primary School is a happy, caring and ambitious school where pupils achieve well and benefit from a carefully considered curriculum. Inspectors found strong provision across the board, including effective support for pupils with SEND, a well-prioritised reading curriculum, a nurturing early years setting, positive behaviour and strong pastoral care. The school's THRIVE values are evident in pupils' courteous conduct, and leaders and governors are effective, with high staff morale. The main area for improvement is writing. While the curriculum sets out clear knowledge and pupils enjoy writing for a range of purposes, not all staff consistently ensure that pupils write with precision and accuracy. Some pupils do not routinely apply grammar and spelling knowledge, and inconsistent handwriting or presentation can hinder the quality of their written communication. This was a graded inspection, and the school was previously judged to require improvement. The headteacher took up post in January 2024, and the school is a community primary with 380 pupils. Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy, safe and achieve well in a joyful school community.
• The curriculum clearly sets out what pupils must know and remember.
• Staff present information clearly and use effective questioning to extend pupils' understanding.
• Pupils recall subject knowledge well and use subject-specific vocabulary confidently.
• Pupils with SEND are identified and supported effectively so that they achieve well.
• Reading is prioritised and reading for pleasure is promoted well.
• Phonics is taught effectively, with strong support for pupils who struggle with reading.
• Early years staff build warm relationships and develop children's language and communication effectively.
• Behaviour management is consistent, with high expectations and well-established routines.
• Pupils are studious, courteous and collaborate well during social times.
• Pastoral care is strong and pupils' personal development and well-being are prioritised.
• Leaders and governors are effective, know the school well and fulfil their duties.
• Staff morale is high, and leaders consider staff well-being and workload.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Not all staff consistently ensure pupils write with precision and accuracy across English and other subjects.
• Some pupils do not routinely apply grammar and spelling knowledge to produce fluent, legible written work.
• Inconsistent handwriting and presentation, along with spelling inaccuracies, can hinder the flow and quality of pupils' written communication.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Swanwick Primary School attended 95.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.6% of pupils at Swanwick Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Swanwick Primary School had 21.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.9% of pupils at Swanwick Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Swanwick Primary School received £6,793 and spent £7,132 for each of its 379 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £14,000 (£37 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Alfreton · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Swanwick Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Swanwick Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Swanwick Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Swanwick Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Swanwick Primary School have?

Swanwick Primary School has 379 pupils on roll.

What age range does Swanwick Primary School cover?

Swanwick Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Swanwick Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Swanwick Primary School?

Swanwick Primary School is at South Street, Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 1BZ.