Bishop Pursglove CofE (A) Primary School

About Bishop Pursglove CofE (A) Primary School

Bishop Pursglove CofE (A) Primary School is a small Church of England primary in the Derbyshire Dales, with just 79 pupils on roll against a capacity of 178. That means the school is running at less than half its potential size, which is unusual for a state primary and suggests it serves a very specific local community rather than drawing from a wide catchment. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20.3%, which is above the national average for primary schools and indicates a higher-than-typical level of disadvantage among its intake. Despite this, the school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year: it received 7 applications for just 4 available places, with all 4 first-preference applicants offered a spot. The oversubscription ratio of 1.75 shows that demand is real but not intense, and the fact that every first-preference family secured a place suggests the school is a genuine first choice for those who know it.

Academically, Bishop Pursglove’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 paint a mixed picture. Just 42% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well below the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 26th out of 35 primaries in the Derbyshire Dales on this measure, placing it in the bottom half locally and in the bottom 12% nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: 79% of pupils met the expected standard in writing, and 63% in maths, while reading lagged at 58%. At the higher standard, 26% achieved greater depth in writing and 21% in reading, but only 11% across all three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 was ungraded, confirming it remains Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision and the quality of education all rated Good. Its previous graded inspection in 2015 also awarded Good, so the school has held a steady rating for over a decade.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a forest school, sensory room, chapel, music rooms and art studios, plus an ICT suite and library. Sports provision covers football, rounders, cross country, dance, gymnastics and cricket, and there are clubs for choir, science, chess, drama, art and book club. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, and speech, language and communication needs. With its small roll, strong Church of England character and oversubscribed but accessible admissions, Bishop Pursglove is best suited to families who value a close-knit, faith-based setting and are comfortable with a school where academic outcomes are below the local average but where individual subjects like writing and maths show relative strength. It is not a high-performing choice on standard metrics, but for families prioritising community and pastoral care over league table position, it may be a good fit.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Pursglove CofE (A) Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents