Northfield Junior School

Northfield Junior School is recognized as a good educational institution that provides a warm and caring environment for its pupils. The school has successfully created a nurturing atmosphere where every student is known and supported by staff, which fosters a positive attitude towards learning. Notable features include a variety of clubs and activities, as well as a focus on mental health and well-being. The curriculum is ambitious and well-structured, contributing to pupils' good academic achievements, particularly in reading. The school has shown resilience and adaptability, effectively addressing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during this inspection.

Strengths

• Nurturing and supportive learning environment for all pupils
• Broad and balanced curriculum that goes beyond academics
• High engagement in extra-curricular activities
• Effective strategies in place for promoting reading
• Strong culture of responsibility and behaviour
• Commitment to mental health and personal development

Areas for Improvement

• Some activities do not effectively help pupils recall key knowledge
• Pupils lack a clear understanding of language related to world faiths and religions

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 Northfield Junior School attended 97.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 2.4% 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, 0.6% of pupils at Northfield Junior School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Northfield Junior School had 21.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.9% 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, 20.6% of pupils at Northfield Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.0% 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 Northfield Junior School received £6,411 and spent £6,574 for each of its 165 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £46,000 (£278 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 Dronfield · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Northfield Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Northfield Junior School is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Northfield Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

Northfield Junior School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Northfield Junior School have?

Northfield Junior School has 165 pupils on roll.

What age range does Northfield Junior School cover?

Northfield Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are Northfield Junior School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Northfield Junior School?

Northfield Junior School is at Falcon Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2ED.