Bradley CofE Primary School

About Bradley CofE Primary School

Bradley CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in the Derbyshire Dales, operating under Derbyshire local authority. Among the 353 primary schools in the county, it sits outside the very top tier occupied by peers such as Wessington Primary, Redhill Primary and Longford CofE Primary, all of which share the highest possible ranking score. With just 27 pupils on roll against a capacity of 49, Bradley is notably intimate, and its size is reflected in its admission figures: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received nine applications for four places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.25 applicants per place. Four first-preference families were offered a spot. The school’s religious character as Church of England adds a layer of local identity, and its headteacher, Nicola Foulds, leads a setting where the pupil body includes 11.1 per cent eligible for free school meals, slightly below the national average for primary schools.

Academically, Bradley CofE Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its last graded inspection in 2015. The most recent ungraded inspection in 2019 confirmed the school remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision and overall effectiveness all judged Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The data does not include specific Key Stage 2 SATs results for Bradley, so direct comparison with the Derbyshire local authority average of 59 per cent reaching the expected standard is not possible. However, the school’s sustained Good rating across two consecutive inspections suggests consistent quality. Ofsted’s breakdown shows no separate grades for behaviour and attitudes or personal development in the most recent report, but the early years provision was specifically noted as Good, which is a positive sign for families with younger children entering Reception.

The school offers a practical range of facilities that suit its rural, small-scale character. These include a Forest School, a sensory room, a chapel, music and art studios, an ICT suite and a library, alongside an outdoor playground and gymnasium. Sports provision covers athletics, gymnastics, football, dance and rounders, while clubs include science, eco, art and book clubs. For children with additional needs, Bradley lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. Given its small size, oversubscribed status and strong local reputation, Bradley CofE Primary is best suited to families who value a close-knit, faith-based setting within the Derbyshire Dales and who are prepared to apply early for a Reception place.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bradley CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents