Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Walesby Forest Residential

  Tue 08 Jul 2025

  Our Year 5 and 6 children enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Walesby Forest activity centre last week. We stayed for two nights with activities spread over three days.

   

  We tried tomahawk throwing, laser quest, air rifle shooting, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, paddleboards and various climbing activities including the leap of faith. For some the greatest challenge may have been making the beds but eventually everyone managed to get a good rest and enjoy the experience.

  

• Class 2 activity day and sleepover

  Sun 22 Jun 2025

  Class 2 had a fantastic time at their activity day and sleepover last week. We were based at St Giles CE Primary School in Matlock and joined with their year 3 and 4 children for the event.

   

  On the first day, we took part in a series of activities organised by outdoor experience provider Acclimbatize. The team set up a climbing wall, archery, team building games and bushcraft and all the children had a go at the different activities. We then calmed things down with a film and tea before playing a few more games on the field. The evening finished with a campfire and some traditional songs and stories before bed.

   

  Many of the children had not experienced staying away from home without their parents before so sleeping over at the school was a daunting prospect for some but everyone coped brilliantly despite some very warm temperatures.

   

  On the second day, we completed more nature based activities - making bug hotels, transient artworks and den building before heading home for some much-needed rest. Everyone had a great time and it was lovely to see the children mixing so well with their peers. Next week it's the turn of our year 5 and 6 pupils, who are heading off for a two night stay at the Walesby Forest activity centre.

  

• South Peak Sports Winners

  Fri 13 Jun 2025

  We had a fantastic time at South Peak Sports yesterday and managed to win our category by just one point. Having missed out by a similar amount last year, it was great for the children to get the result they wanted but, more importantly, they all put in maximum effort and showed their full potential.

   

  Children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 competed in 28 different track races. There was a running race, a skipping race, the potato race (which involves collecting bean bags in order) and finally the relay races. Congratulations to the whole team and everyone who took part.

  

• Free breakfast club for all children

  Wed 30 Apr 2025

  Our morning breakfast club is now free for all children. This runs from 8am and offers children a healthy breakfast as well as crafts, activities and games to help them settle in for their day in school.

   

  The government is keen for all schools to offer free breakfast clubs and Darley Churchtown has been chosen as one of 750 schools nationally to be part of an early adopter scheme. Previously families who were eligible for pupil premium funding were able to access the breakfast club without cost but there was a charge for other children.

   

  To book a place, please sign up through ParentPay as this allows us to manage staffing and supplies.

  

• Comic Relief

  Thu 27 Mar 2025

  To mark Red Nose Day this year, we held a crazy hair day and decorated cakes. These were sold after school and proved very popular. We raised nearly £100 for Comic Relief so huge thanks to everyone who helped out with the cake making, decorating and buying. We hope they tasted as good as they looked!

  

• Science Day

  Tue 18 Mar 2025

  Last week was British Science Week so each class set aside some time on Friday for a bit of extra science. Class 1 investigated colour, Class 2 learnt about how reptiles change and adapt to their surroundings and Class 3 found out how blood flows through the body and how the organs of the body fit together. You can find out more on the class blogs.

  

• Class Newsletters for Spring 2

  Thu 27 Feb 2025

  The curriculum newsletters for the second half of the Spring term are now online. You can read about what we'll be covering over the next six weeks on the class pages:

   

  Class 1

  Class 2

  Class 3

• Chinese New Year

  Mon 03 Feb 2025

  Children took part in an afternoon of Chinese New Year-themed activities last week. We learnt about the story of how the animals for the Chinese calendar were chosen, made gift envelopes and paper chain dragons and even had a go at a dragon dance. Parents joined us at the end of the day to see what their children had made.

  

• Inspectors praise “small school with big aspirations”

  Fri 10 Jan 2025

  Ofsted has praised Darley Churchtown school for having “big aspirations” for its pupils and ensuring they are well prepared for “their next steps in education and their future lives”.

   

  Inspectors from the government’s education standards body, Ofsted, visited Darley Churchtown CofE Primary School in the week before the Christmas holiday and the report has now been released.

   

  Inspectors said pupils enjoy coming to the “welcoming school”. They noted:

   

  • There is an ambitious curriculum and an extensive enrichment offer.
  • School has high expectations for pupils and caring staff know all the children very well.
  • There is a positive learning environment that enables pupils to thrive.
  • Pupils are polite and respectful to each other and staff.

   

  The report also states that children with special educational needs are well supported so they can succeed “alongside their peers”. It says children with additional needs are quickly identified and staff have the necessary expertise to ensure activities are adapted so all pupils can be successful.

   

  Darley Churchtown works as part of a partnership of local schools within the Matlock and Dales Primary Partnership and is part of the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust. The inspectors praised the "broad and challenging curriculum" that has been developed alongside other schools in the partnership and with the support of the trust.

   

  Reading is prioritised at the school and inspectors observed phonics teaching and noted these sessions were delivered “expertly” by “skilled staff”. They also spoke with children and found that they have opportunities to revisit topics meaning they can “remember and build on what they have learned before”.

   

  Inspectors said there are “high expectations” for behaviour. They said there are no disruptions to learning and children play together happily at break, enjoying the sports and activities that are on offer.

   

  Darley Churchtown staff are delighted with the report and recognition that it gives to our wonderful school. We are also hugely grateful to all parents who spoke with the inspectors and provided feedback. We don’t get all the details of these conversations but the report finishes with one quote: “I could not wish for a better school for my children.”

   

  Darley Churchtown was last inspected in January 2020 and received a ‘good’ grade. Under the current framework for inspections, schools that were previously rated as ‘good’ receive an ‘ungraded inspection’ so no new effectiveness grade is given. Instead the report says that the school “has taken effective actions to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection”. It also notes that arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

   

  Read the full report here

  

• Christmas Events

  Fri 20 Dec 2024

  We've had an exciting week in school with the nativity performance on Monday, Christmas party afternoon on Wednesday (featuring a very special guest visitor) and Christmas lunch and the carol concert on Thursday. Here are some of the photos from the various events. Have a lovely holiday!