Curbar Primary School Review 2026: Small-village primary with strong KS2 outcomes and a calm, responsible culture

A small community primary in Calver, near the Hope Valley villages, Curbar Primary School has the kind of scale where pupils are known well and responsibilities feel meaningful rather than tokenistic. That shows up in both its culture and its results. In the most recent published KS2 outcomes, 86% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, well above the England average of 62%. A third reached the higher standard, again far ahead of the England figure.

The latest graded Ofsted inspection (15–16 November 2023, published 14 December 2023) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding judgements for behaviour and attitudes and early years provision.

Small schools can feel either insular or intensely cohesive. Curbar leans towards the second, helped by a clear set of routines and a culture where older pupils take visible responsibility. The most recent inspection describes older pupils acting as reading buddies and playground monitors, with pupils aiming to follow the “Curbar code” and earn recognition as “Curbar citizens”. That kind of language matters because it gives pupils a shared set of expectations that can be reinforced consistently across mixed ages.

Leadership is headed by Mr Simon Beahan, listed as headteacher on Get Information About Schools and described on the school website as Acting Executive Headteacher, having joined Curbar in September 2015 and also leading Longstone Primary School. For parents, the practical implication is stability. A small school benefits from a head who understands the community and can keep improvement work moving without constant resets.

There is also an unusually clear sense of place. The school history published on the website links the current buildings to local education reforms and village life. It states the present school was built in 1871 as a National School, and it notes additions including the KS1 classroom known as The Beehive (opened 2012), a multi use games area completed in autumn 2015, and a library and learning hub funded by the PTFA and completed in September 2021. These specifics are useful because they point to facilities that match how a modern small primary actually runs: flexible teaching spaces, a dedicated games area, and a purposeful library space rather than a token shelf of books.

The headline for Curbar is that outcomes are comfortably above England averages, and the detail suggests balanced strength rather than a single spike.

In the most recent published KS2 dataset:

• 86% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

• At the higher standard (greater depth across reading, writing and maths), 33.67% reached the higher threshold, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores were 108 in reading, 107 in maths, and 107 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

• 100% reached the expected standard in science, compared with an England average of 82%.

Ranking context (FindMySchool proprietary ranking based on official data): Ranked 2,737th in England and 2nd in Hope Valley for primary outcomes, placing performance above the England average and within the top 25% of schools in England.

Parents comparing nearby villages often find small schools hard to benchmark. The FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help you line up Curbar’s KS2 indicators against other local primaries using the same methodology.

A small school’s teaching challenge is consistency, particularly when staff are covering mixed ages and multiple subjects. The most recent inspection describes an ambitious, interesting curriculum with clearly identified knowledge and a strong focus on literacy and vocabulary. It also flags a familiar small-school improvement point: as curriculum changes bed in, not every subject is delivered consistently, and misconceptions are not always picked up quickly enough.

For families, that translates into a sensible expectation. Core routines around reading and basic skills look well established, while curriculum refinement is an active workstream rather than a finished project. If your child needs quick diagnostic feedback to stay confident, it is worth asking how staff spot misconceptions and how pupils are helped to act on feedback in day-to-day lessons.

Early years is a clear strength area in the official judgements, and the inspection narrative describes early years staff supporting communication and teamwork, with activities planned around children’s interests and readiness for Year 1.

As a state primary, Curbar is about preparing pupils for the next step in the local secondary system rather than sending pupils to named destination schools. The best indicator is readiness and independence. The inspection describes pupils developing positive attitudes to learning from early years onwards, and older pupils taking structured responsibility for younger ones. That tends to support smoother Year 7 transitions, especially for pupils moving from a small setting into a much larger secondary.

For parents wanting to plan early, it is sensible to review Derbyshire’s secondary admissions information alongside transport realities from the surrounding villages. If you are weighing multiple primaries with different travel patterns, consider using FindMySchool’s Map Search tools to understand practical journey times, not just straight-line distance.

Curbar operates within Derbyshire’s coordinated admissions process for primary places. The school’s own admissions page states that applications are made to the local authority, and it lists a published admissions number (PAN) of 10 for the reception group.

Demand indicators from the most recent dataset show a small-school dynamic where absolute numbers are modest, but competition can still be real. For the relevant primary entry route, there were 25 applications for 9 offers, a subscription proportion of 2.78, and the status is marked Oversubscribed. In practice, this usually means families should treat Curbar as a preference-led choice rather than a fallback, even though it is not a large urban school with hundreds of applicants.

For September 2026 entry in Derbyshire, the local authority confirmed the application window opened 10 November 2025 and closed at midnight on 15 January 2026. Derbyshire also states offers are issued on 16 April 2026 (National Offer Day).

Pastoral strength in a small primary is often about visibility and consistency, and Curbar’s published and inspected evidence points in that direction. The inspection describes pupils learning how to keep themselves safe and healthy, with staff supporting wellbeing and teaching pupils how to take care of their mental health. It also reports that parents and carers value the care pupils receive.

Safeguarding is also explicitly confirmed as effective in the most recent inspection report.

Curbar does not rely on generic claims here, which is helpful for parents trying to picture weekly life. The school’s “A Day in the Life” page lists named Wednesday after-school clubs including Archery, Comic and art club, British Sign Language, and Mindfulness. For a small primary, that mix is a good sign: it offers both physical activity and skills-based clubs that are not simply football plus craft.

Wraparound is also unusually clear. The school works with 623 Breakfast and After School Club, an Ofsted registered provision now located at the refurbished Scout Hut. The after-school club runs 3:15pm to 6pm on weekdays in term time, and breakfast club runs 7:30am to 8:50am. This matters because in rural areas, wraparound options can be the difference between a school working for a family or not.

Outdoor learning is also part of the school’s public messaging. The homepage references Forest School, including outdoor learning elements for Reception. If outdoor learning is a priority for your child, it is worth asking how often each class accesses Forest School across the year, and how it is staffed in different seasons.

The school day is clearly set out: doors open 8:40am, school starts 8:45am, and pupils finish at 3:15pm, with lunch 12:00 to 1:00pm. Wraparound is available via 623, with breakfast from 7:30am and after-school care until 6pm on weekdays in term time.

For travel, families typically factor in village-road driving and winter conditions as much as mileage. Ask about drop-off routines and whether any informal lift-sharing operates among families, as that can shape day-to-day practicality in small communities.

• Small-school scale. With a capacity of 74 pupils, year groups are small. That can be excellent for individual attention, but it also means friendship groups are tighter and personality dynamics can feel more intense for some children.

• Curriculum consistency is still bedding in. The most recent inspection notes that much of the curriculum is new and not yet delivered consistently in every subject, with misconceptions not always identified quickly enough. Families should ask how staff check understanding and how feedback is acted on in lessons.

• Wraparound is via a partner provider. 623 provision is established and clearly timed, but it is a separate organisation working closely with the school. Parents should confirm availability, booking routines, and holiday coverage if wraparound is central to your childcare plan.

Curbar Primary School suits families who want a small, community-rooted primary where responsibility, calm behaviour, and strong core outcomes sit alongside practical wraparound options. Academic results are comfortably above England averages, and early years and behaviour are notable strengths in the most recent official judgements. The main decision point is fit: children who enjoy being known well and taking part in a close-knit setting tend to thrive here; those who want maximum anonymity and a very broad peer group may prefer a larger primary.