Highfield Hall Primary School

Highfield Hall Primary School is currently undergoing an ungraded inspection, with evidence suggesting that some aspects of the school may not be as strong as they were during the previous inspection. While the school has maintained its commitment to creating a nurturing environment and fostering positive relationships among pupils, concerns have been raised regarding the implementation of certain areas of the curriculum. Although pupils demonstrate good behavior and are engaged in their learning, there are issues affecting their academic progress, particularly in recalling and connecting key knowledge across subjects.

Strengths

• Pupils feel happy and supported at school.
• Strong focus on emotional well-being and support.
• Ambitious approach to developing a love of reading among pupils.
• Good provision in early years with effective support for learning.
• Positive relationships between pupils and staff.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum affects learning outcomes.
• Insufficient focus on addressing misconceptions in English skills.
• Pupils struggle with recalling key knowledge over time.

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 Highfield Hall Primary School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.4% 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, 2.6% of pupils at Highfield Hall 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 Highfield Hall Primary School had 20.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.6% 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, 14.4% of pupils at Highfield Hall Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 Highfield Hall Primary School received £7,453 and spent £7,681 for each of its 363 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £278,000 (-£767 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 Chesterfield · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Highfield Hall Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highfield Hall Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Highfield Hall Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Highfield Hall Primary School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Highfield Hall Primary School have?

Highfield Hall Primary School has 375 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highfield Hall Primary School cover?

Highfield Hall Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highfield Hall Primary School?

Highfield Hall Primary School is at Highfield Hall Primary School, Highfield Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8AZ.