Bakewell CofE Infant School

About Bakewell CofE Infant School

Bakewell CofE Infant School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections, the latest of which took place in 2023. The school serves children aged five to seven in Derbyshire Dales and is a Church of England state primary. With only 27 pupils on roll against a capacity of 120, it is a very small school where every child is known well. In its 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — as Good. The previous inspection, back in 2012, also awarded Good for overall effectiveness and leadership. Because the school covers only Key Stage 1, there are no published KS2 SATs results or a Progress 8 score to examine. However, the local authority average for KS2 attainment across Derbyshire primary schools is 59, which provides a useful benchmark for families considering the feeder junior school that children move on to at age seven.

Without KS2 data for the school itself, the strongest indicator of academic quality is the Ofsted judgement, which confirms that pupils receive a good standard of education. The school has a relatively high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 33.3%, well above the national average, which suggests it serves a diverse intake. Ofsted noted that behaviour and attitudes are Good, and the early years provision is also Good, which is particularly important for children joining in Reception. The school offers a range of clubs including Film Club, Gardening, Chess, Book Club, Choir and Science Club, as well as sports such as swimming, football, netball, athletics and rounders. Facilities include a gymnasium, library, forest school, music rooms, art studios and a chapel, which is unusual for a school of this size and reflects its Church of England foundation.

Admissions for the 2025/26 year show that the school is oversubscribed, with 19 applications for 15 places and all 15 first-preference applicants receiving offers. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.27, meaning it is popular locally but not fiercely competitive. The school has identified SEND provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as speech, language and communication support, which will appeal to families whose children require targeted help in these areas. Bakewell CofE Infant School is best suited to families who value a small, church-affiliated setting with strong pastoral care and a broad range of enrichment activities, and who are comfortable with their child moving to a different junior school at age seven. Its Good Ofsted rating and consistent performance over time make it a reliable choice within the Derbyshire primary landscape.

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