Redhill Primary School, Derby Review 2026: Literacy-led primary with elite KS2 outcomes

A strong thread of reading culture runs through Redhill’s identity, from its emphasis on “book chatter” to the deliberate curation of a Redhill Literary Canon (a school-wide list of 100 books pupils are encouraged to encounter during primary years). Alongside that cultural focus sits an unusually high headline on outcomes, with the school’s primary performance placing it among the highest-performing primaries in England.

Size and structure matter here. With a published admission number of 30 pupils per year group and an overall capacity of 210, Redhill is small enough to feel highly joined-up, while still offering breadth through enrichment days, leadership roles for pupils, and a busy extra-curricular timetable. It is a state school, so there are no tuition fees, but places are limited and demand is consistently strong.

Redhill presents itself with a clear, memorable narrative. The public-facing motto, “Together we dream, believe and achieve”, sets the tone for a school that wants pupils to feel ambitious and secure at the same time. That intent is translated into everyday language through the school’s “SECRET” values, Supportive, Enthusiastic, Creative, Resilient, Enterprising, Thoughtful. Instead of leaving values as posters, the school describes a structured rhythm, each half term focuses on a different value, with assemblies, class activities and celebration aligned to that single theme.

The leadership story is unusually stable. Mrs Nicola Millar has been headteacher since September 2000, a tenure that tends to correlate with consistency in priorities and staff practice. Day-to-day leadership is also shared, with Mr A Wright described as Co-Headteacher and the Year 6 teacher, carrying out the headteacher role on Thursdays and Fridays. That kind of planned split can suit families who value continuity with a long-serving head, while also benefiting from a senior leader who is deeply embedded in classroom life.

Pupil culture is shaped by small-school routines and visible roles. The school describes pupil voice and leadership structures, and there is a practical tilt to wellbeing, including a school dog, Teddy, who is part of reading and pastoral routines (listening to children read and accompanying walks). For some children, that regular, low-stakes support can be the difference between reading as a task and reading as confidence.

For a primary school, the headline outcome is the combined expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2. At Redhill, the most recently published figures available show 100% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined.

Depth matters too. At the higher standard, 64.67% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 8%. This suggests the story is not only about getting every child over the line, it is also about pushing a large proportion well beyond it.

Scaled scores reinforce the same picture. Average scaled scores stand at 114 for reading, 112 for mathematics, and 114 for grammar, punctuation and spelling. Those are exceptionally high figures in a system where scaled scores are designed to cluster around a national reference point.

On rankings, Redhill’s results sit in the elite tier. It is ranked 18th in England and 1st in Derby for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). Put simply, very few schools nationally achieve a stronger combined profile.

Parents comparing options locally should use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these outcomes side-by-side with nearby primaries, as the local picture can change quickly across short distances.

The academic profile is supported by a teaching model that prioritises consistency and shared language. Redhill publishes “Redhill Routines” for core subjects, signalling a school that values clarity in how lessons are structured and how pupils are expected to work. In practice, that typically means predictable lesson sequences, strong modelling, and repetition of key habits so that cognitive load is spent on learning rather than on figuring out what is expected.

Reading is treated as a whole-school priority, not a single department’s responsibility. The Redhill Literary Canon is a good example of how the school makes reading cultural rather than purely functional. It was built through a survey of pupils and staff, selecting 50 popular children’s choices and 50 popular adult choices, with deliberate constraints to promote author diversity. The implication for families is straightforward, children are more likely to develop breadth and confidence in reading when the school treats book knowledge as shared cultural capital.

Values are integrated into curriculum design rather than bolted on. The “SECRET Showcase” approach, a planned half-termly event where classes demonstrate how a chosen value links with current learning, is a practical mechanism for building oracy, confidence, and parent engagement. The school also describes a social action angle within some showcase events, which helps translate values into behaviour and empathy rather than simply discussion.

Redhill is a state primary, so pupil destinations at age 11 depend heavily on family address and the relevant secondary admissions arrangements for that year. In Derbyshire, designated areas and distance criteria can shape secondary allocations, and these vary across the county.

The transition approach described for pupils with additional needs is clear and procedural, liaison with the receiving school’s SENCO, early sharing of arrangements that need to be in place, and prompt transfer of records. That kind of deliberate handover is particularly important for pupils who find change difficult, including those with SEND or anxiety around moving settings.

For families planning ahead, a sensible approach is to shortlist likely secondary options early, then check designated area arrangements and travel practicality alongside academic fit. Derbyshire’s “normal area school” tools can help confirm the intended secondary area for a given address.

Entry is straightforward in route, but competitive in reality. Redhill participates in Derbyshire’s co-ordinated admissions scheme, so Reception applications are made through the local authority rather than directly to the school.

Capacity is tight by design. The published admission number is 30 pupils, with a total capacity of 210 when full. In the most recent dataset, there were 60 applications for 30 offers, meaning around two applicants per place. First-preference demand also exceeds first-preference offers, a pattern typical of popular small primaries.

Oversubscription rules matter. Redhill’s admissions policy states that, if applications exceed places, priority is given in order to children in care and previously looked-after children, then children living in the designated area (the parish of Ockbrook), then siblings, then social or medical need (with supporting evidence), then children of staff with two or more years’ service, and finally other children by straight-line distance.

Key dates for September 2026 Reception entry (Derbyshire primary admissions timetable) follow the county-wide pattern:

• Applications open online from 10 November 2025

• Closing date is midnight on 15 January 2026

• National Offer Day is 16 April 2026

Open events are handled more flexibly. The school invites families to arrange tours and meet the headteacher, which can suit parents who prefer a quieter, individual visit rather than a single large open morning.

Pastoral provision is woven into ordinary routines rather than being treated as a separate programme. The school publishes wellbeing content, and the senior leadership structure includes a designated safeguarding lead role identified on the staff listing. That clarity can be reassuring to families who want to understand who holds key responsibilities.

Teddy the school dog is a concrete example of a practical wellbeing strategy. Listening to children read, being present through the day, and joining walks are simple interventions, but for many pupils they reduce stress, improve confidence, and help reluctant readers engage without feeling scrutinised.

The latest Ofsted inspection in December 2023 rated the school Outstanding, with Outstanding judgements across the major areas of inspection. Safeguarding was confirmed as effective in the same inspection.

Redhill’s extra-curricular offer is more detailed than many small primaries, and it is updated termly. The club list for the second half of Autumn term includes structured options such as Baking, Sketching, Christmas Crafts, Zumba, Young Voices Choir, Gymnastics, LEGO, Girls Football and Football. Clubs run after school and, in that published cycle, finish at 4.15pm.

Two points stand out for families. First, the menu mixes sport, creative activities and structured making, which means pupils who are not sport-led still have visible options. Second, demand can outstrip supply, with the school noting that clubs are often oversubscribed and allocations are managed to give pupils fair access across the year.

Enrichment extends beyond clubs. The school describes at least one trip per class each year, with examples including museums and art galleries, places of worship, and larger educational visits such as Cadbury World or the Sea Life Centre. In a small primary, these experiences do important work, they broaden vocabulary and background knowledge that later supports comprehension and writing.

The compulsory school day runs from 8.45am until 3.30pm. Wraparound care is available through an on-site breakfast club, running from 7.30am to 8.45am, and an after-school provision running from 3.30pm to 6.00pm. Pricing for wraparound care is handled by the external provider, so families should check directly for current session costs.

For travel, most families will approach as a local village school, with walkability depending on where you sit within the Ockbrook area and surrounding roads. If you are relying on a place through designated area priority or distance rules, it is worth checking your address positioning carefully before the application deadline.

• Small intake, limited flexibility. With 30 places per year group, the year-group size is part of the school’s appeal, but it also makes admissions more competitive, particularly for families outside the designated area.

• High attainment can bring high expectations. The results profile suggests strong academic pace. For many pupils this is energising; for children who find sustained academic pressure difficult, it is important to understand how challenge is balanced with support.

• Clubs may be oversubscribed. The school aims to allocate fairly, but families who rely on specific days for childcare should check wraparound arrangements separately from clubs, as a club place is not guaranteed.

• Leadership is shared across the week. The headteacher role is split, with a co-headteacher leading on Thursdays and Fridays. This can work well, but families who want direct access to a particular leader should plan meetings accordingly.

Redhill Primary School is a small, high-performing state primary with a distinctive literacy identity and a clear values framework. Results place it among the strongest primaries in England, and the school’s curriculum thinking, including the Literary Canon and the SECRET values cycle, gives substance to the headline data. Best suited to families who want an academically ambitious primary with a strong reading culture, and who value clear routines and structured enrichment. The limiting factor is admissions, the year-group size that supports cohesion also makes securing a place more competitive.