Rowde CofE Academy

About Rowde CofE Academy

Rowde CofE Academy is a small Church of England primary in Wiltshire that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 28 applications for just 21 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.33. Every one of those 20 first-preference applicants was offered a spot, which suggests that while the school is popular, families who put it first stand a strong chance. The school doesn’t publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the oversubscription figures alone signal a solid local reputation. With just 112 pupils on a capacity of 210, Rowde is running well below its maximum, which may reflect its rural setting rather than any lack of demand. The headteacher, Alice Simpson, leads a school that has clearly turned a corner: its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated it Good across every category, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2019.

Academically, Rowde’s Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 year paint a mixed picture. Sixty per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is slightly above the Wiltshire local authority average of 58 per cent. Reading was a particular strength, with 87 per cent reaching the expected standard and 13 per cent achieving a higher score. Maths was more of a challenge: 67 per cent hit the expected standard, and 27 per cent reached the higher threshold. The average reading score was 106 and maths 104, both a touch above the national benchmark of 100. No pupil achieved the higher standard in writing, and none reached the higher combined measure. Nationally, the school sits in the 55th percentile for the combined expected standard, placing it in the bottom half of schools across the country, though it ranks 75th out of 159 primaries in Wiltshire.

The school offers a good range of facilities for its size, including a library, art studios, ICT suite, music rooms, a sports hall, playing fields and a forest school area. Clubs include drama, choir, chess, eco club and coding, while sports on offer are football, netball, cross country, rounders and dance. The school’s SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Rowde is a state primary with no nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. It will suit families in the Wiltshire area who want a small, Church of England primary with a strong recent Ofsted record and a clear improvement trajectory, particularly those who can support their child in maths and writing at home to complement the school’s stronger reading outcomes.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Rowde CofE Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents