St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School

In a village setting on the Leicestershire and Derbyshire edge, this is a primary where scale shapes everything. With a modest published capacity of 105 places, routines tend to be consistent, relationships close, and communication straightforward. The head teacher is Mrs Kelly Ellis, appointed in January 2019.

Ranking context matters, because it helps explain how the school compares when multiple measures are rolled together. St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School is ranked 10,615th in England for primary academic outcomes out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, and 53rd in Derby in the FindMySchool local results.

As a Church of England voluntary controlled school, Christian distinctiveness is part of the identity. In January 2025, the SIAMS church school inspection took place and reported outcomes without grades under the current approach.

The defining feature here is intimacy. A small roll can mean pupils are known exceptionally well, and older pupils often take responsibility naturally because there are simply fewer layers between children and staff. The most recent Ofsted inspection (24 November 2022) described a family-like feel and confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Leadership stability is also a tangible factor. Mrs Kelly Ellis has been head teacher since January 2019, and her long-enough tenure matters in a small school because changes in approach are felt quickly and consistently.

Faith is present in a way typical of a Church of England village school: rooted language, collective worship rhythms, and links into church life across the year. The school’s own published vision explicitly frames flourishing and growth as “rooted in God’s love”, and that tone helps explain why services and church events appear frequently in communications and calendared activities.

This is a state primary, so the most relevant outcomes for most families are Key Stage 2 measures and the wider pattern of attainment.

St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School's current 2025 Key Stage 2 profile shows 50% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, with 10% reaching the higher standard. The current FindMySchool academic rank is 10,615th out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, with a local position of 53rd in Derby.

St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School's current 2025 Key Stage 2 profile shows 50% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, with 10% reaching the higher standard. The current FindMySchool academic rank is 10,615th out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, with a local position of 53rd in Derby.

St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School's current 2025 Key Stage 2 profile shows 50% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, with 10% reaching the higher standard. The current FindMySchool academic rank is 10,615th out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, with a local position of 53rd in Derby.

• Scaled scores: Reading 106; Maths 101; GPS (grammar, punctuation and spelling) 103.

Taken together, that is a broadly positive attainment story against England averages, especially in reading, with maths closer to the national norm. The higher standard figure is also above the England benchmark, which suggests there is stretch for some pupils, even if cohort size means percentages can move around.

Ranking context matters, because it helps explain how the school compares when multiple measures are rolled together. St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School is ranked 10,615th in England for primary academic outcomes out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, and 53rd in Derby in the FindMySchool local results.

Ranking context matters, because it helps explain how the school compares when multiple measures are rolled together. St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School is ranked 10,615th in England for primary academic outcomes out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, and 53rd in Derby in the FindMySchool local results.

For a primary of this size, the practical strength is coherence. It is easier to align classroom practice, intervention, and expectations when there are fewer moving parts. Ofsted’s 2022 inspection highlighted clear behaviour expectations and noted that curriculum planning is sequenced, while also pointing to a specific improvement area: in a small number of subjects, leaders needed greater clarity about the most important knowledge pupils should remember over time.

In day-to-day terms, that sort of feedback usually translates into sharper “golden threads” in foundation subjects: clearer progression in history timelines, more deliberate retrieval, and tighter assessment of what pupils actually retain, not just what they have covered. For parents, it is worth asking how those curriculum refinements have been embedded since 2022, particularly for pupils who benefit from structure and frequent recap.

Reading matters here. The 2022 inspection included a deep dive into reading and phonics, and described phonics as well planned and sequenced. For families with early readers, that is often the most immediate lever in a small school because confidence and pace in reading can influence everything else.

For a village primary, transition is often less about a single destination and more about a cluster of plausible local secondaries, plus the family’s appetite for travel. The school shares practical guidance with families about the Year 6 to Year 7 transfer process, including the national closing date (31 October) and the national offer date (1 March, or the next working day).

What to look for as a parent is the quality of transition preparation rather than a fixed “feeder” story: how Year 6 supports organisation, study habits, and independence, and how the school liaises with receiving secondaries on SEND, friendship groups, and pastoral handover.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through the local authority route for most families. The school’s own admissions information directs applicants to apply via Leicestershire.

Demand signals (Reception entry route)

Reception admissions are coordinated by Leicestershire. For 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027.

Key dates for 2027 entry entry

Reception admissions are coordinated by Leicestershire. For 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027.

Pastoral support in a small primary often looks like early identification, quick feedback loops, and fewer handoffs between adults. The 2022 Ofsted inspection described positive relationships and pupils who enjoy school, alongside clear expectations for behaviour.

One distinctive pastoral feature is the school’s “Dog Mentor”, Bramley, described as a golden retriever who is part of the head teacher’s family and used to being around children. For some pupils, especially anxious or reluctant attenders, structured interactions with a calm school dog can be a meaningful piece of emotional regulation and confidence-building, provided boundaries and risk assessment are handled well.

A small school does not need dozens of clubs to feel rich; it needs a few signature activities that children talk about and return to week after week.

Forest School

Forest School is positioned as a routine strand rather than a one-off event. The school publishes a rotating Forest School schedule across the year, indicating planned blocks for different classes. In practice, that typically means outdoor learning becomes part of the rhythm of school life: practical teamwork, managed risk, and the kind of perseverance that is difficult to teach purely indoors.

Young Voices

Music is another visible thread. The school references Young Voices, including a Young Voices choir concert as a parent-facing event, and the music development plan refers to preparation leading up to the Young Voices concert in January. For pupils, massed choir experiences can be a powerful confidence-builder, particularly for those who might not naturally step forward in academic settings.

Other named activities and experiences

Newsletters show a pattern of visiting and enrichment, for example orienteering at Donisthorpe Woodlands and participation in events such as a duathlon at Hicks Lodge (for relevant year groups). These details matter because they suggest the school does not rely only on classroom learning to build skills, it uses local environments and organised events to stretch pupils in practical ways.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast Club runs from 7:45am, and after-school care is offered in sessions from 3:15pm to 4:15pm and 4:15pm to 5:30pm, with a combined option to 5:30pm.

Open events are signposted for Reception starters. For children due to start in Autumn 2026, school communications list multiple open day dates during October and November 2025 (including 16 October, 1 November, 4 November, 12 November, and 28 November).

For transport, most families will approach this as a village school journey, often walkable for Breedon-on-the-Hill itself, with driving more common for families in surrounding hamlets. If you rely on a car drop-off, ask directly about peak-time parking expectations and any safety arrangements.

• Small cohorts, swingy percentages. With a small roll, a handful of pupils can shift published attainment measures meaningfully from one year to the next. Ask how the school tracks progress across the year, not just at the end of Key Stage 2.

• Curriculum refinement in foundation subjects. The most recent Ofsted inspection identified that, in a small number of subjects, leaders needed more clarity about the most important knowledge pupils should remember over time. Families may want to ask what has changed since 2022, especially for history and wider curriculum retention.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Leicestershire. For 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027.

• Faith life is part of the school’s identity. As a Church of England school, worship and church-linked events are embedded across the year. Families who prefer a fully secular approach should explore how Christian distinctiveness is expressed day to day before committing.

Ranking context matters, because it helps explain how the school compares when multiple measures are rolled together. St Hardulph's Church of England Primary School is ranked 10,615th in England for primary academic outcomes out of 14,978 ranked primary schools, and 53rd in Derby in the FindMySchool local results.