Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School

Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School is experiencing challenges that may affect its previous 'good' rating. While pupils feel well supported and enjoy a nurturing environment, inconsistencies in behavior management during lessons have been noted. The school struggles with curriculum coherence, especially in mathematics, hindered by a lack of clarity on what pupils should learn and when. This limits students' progression and preparedness for the next educational stage, though the phonics curriculum remains a positive aspect of their learning.

Strengths

• Strong personal development focus for pupils
• Nurturing environment where pupils feel cared for
• Effective reading curriculum with a solid phonics program
• Pupils appreciate a wide range of extra-curricular activities
• High attendance rates monitored effectively

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent behavior management during lessons
• Curriculum lacks clarity and logical progression
• Some pupils struggle with retaining knowledge
• Insufficient tracking of mixed-age pupils' needs

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 Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.3% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Earl Sterndale CofE Primary 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 Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School had 13.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 83.3% 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, 23.5% of pupils at Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.8% 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 Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School received £12,617 and spent £13,319 for each of its 34 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £12,000 (-£339 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 Buxton · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School have?

Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School has 34 pupils on roll.

What age range does Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School cover?

Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

Where is Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School?

Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School is at Earl Sterndale, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0BS.