Eskdale Junior School

Eskdale Junior School is performing exceptionally well across all inspected areas. The report describes pupils who thrive, achieve exceptionally well, including those with SEND, and benefit from an ambitious curriculum, particularly strong reading and mathematics provision. Behaviour is exceptional, pupils have excellent attitudes to learning and attendance, and they are exceptionally well prepared for their next steps through a broad personal development offer and high-quality enrichment. The school is exceptionally well led and managed, staff feel well supported, governance is effective, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. Parents are positive, and the school continually strives to give all pupils the best possible education. No areas for improvement are identified in the report. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it had not been inspected under section 5 since June 2013 because it was previously exempt as an outstanding school. Since September 2024, schools are not awarded an overall effectiveness grade.

Strengths

• Pupils, including those with SEND, achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum
• Reading is a top priority, with effective support and a strong reading culture
• Mathematics provision is particularly strong
• The curriculum is ambitious and teachers deliver it exceptionally well
• Teachers use excellent subject knowledge and check understanding skilfully
• Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around school is exceptional
• Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning and persevere when work is difficult
• Attendance is excellent for most pupils
• Pupils benefit from a broad personal development programme and high-quality enrichment
• Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for life in modern Britain and their next steps
• Leadership and management are exceptionally strong
• Staff feel well supported with workload and well-being
• Governance is effective, with strong support and challenge
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

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 Eskdale Junior School attended 96.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.1% 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 Eskdale 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 Eskdale Junior School had 25.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.6% 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, 12.9% of pupils at Eskdale Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.4% 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 Eskdale Junior School received £6,743 and spent £6,729 for each of its 248 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £222,000 (£893 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 Nottingham · Nottinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is Eskdale Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Eskdale Junior School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Eskdale Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

Eskdale Junior School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Eskdale Junior School have?

Eskdale Junior School has 248 pupils on roll.

What age range does Eskdale Junior School cover?

Eskdale Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

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

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Eskdale Junior School?

Eskdale Junior School is at Eskdale Drive, Chilwell, Beeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG9 5NA.