Bolsover Church of England Junior School

About Bolsover Church of England Junior School

Bolsover Church of England Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, currently home to 278 pupils against a capacity of 300. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly a popular choice in the Bolsover area. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 42.4%, which is notably high — more than double the national average for primary schools and a strong signal that the school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage. Despite this challenging intake, the school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its most recent graded inspection in 2022, a considerable improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2017. The turnaround in leadership and management, also now rated Good, suggests a school that has stabilised and built effective systems. Parents considering Bolsover CofE Junior should note that while it isn't oversubscribed to the point of turning families away, its local reputation and Church of England character make it a natural first choice for many in the area.

Academically, the school's results tell a mixed but improving story. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 54% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — slightly below the Derbyshire local authority average of 59%. However, the school's average scores in reading (104) and maths (103) are both above the national benchmark of 100, indicating that pupils are making solid progress in these core subjects. The proportion achieving the higher standard in reading (20%) and maths (15%) is respectable, though writing at the higher level drops to 9%. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to gauge value-added precisely, but the school ranks 13th out of 22 primary schools in the Bolsover district on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half locally. Nationally, it sits around the 70th percentile, meaning roughly three in ten schools perform better. For a school with such high levels of disadvantage, these results represent a steady, if not spectacular, performance.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a junior school of its size, including playing fields, a sports hall, gymnasium, library, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios and a chapel — plus a Forest School area, which is a nice bonus for outdoor learning. Sports provision covers gymnastics, netball, rounders and football, and there are clubs for gardening, art and eco activities. SEND support is comprehensive, with provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, visual impairment, autism and other difficulties — a real strength given the school's demographic. For families, this is a school that has clearly worked hard to turn itself around and now offers a stable, inclusive environment. It's best suited to local families who value a Church of England ethos and want a school that understands the realities of economic disadvantage without making excuses. If you're looking for top-tier academic results, you'd look elsewhere in Derbyshire, but for a supportive junior experience, Bolsover CofE Junior is a solid choice.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bolsover Church of England Junior School

Helpful Guides for Parents