Scarcliffe Primary School

About Scarcliffe Primary School

Scarcliffe Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families, with 44 applications for just 13 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.38. Of those 44 applications, 21 were first-preference choices, and all 13 places went to first-preference families. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the Bolsover area. The school is a small, mixed state primary for children aged 4 to 11, with 89 pupils on roll against a capacity of 91. It is a non-religious school, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the quality of education. The previous inspection in 2011 had rated it Outstanding, so the Good rating represents a step down, but the school has held a solid Good for its most recent graded inspection.

Academically, Scarcliffe performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 86% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Derbyshire local authority average of just 59%. That places the school 2nd out of 22 primary schools in Bolsover and in the top 5% nationally. In maths, every single pupil (100%) hit the expected standard, and 43% reached the higher standard. Reading scores were similarly strong, with 93% at expected and 50% at the higher standard, while writing saw 86% at expected and 21% at higher. Average scaled scores were 108 in maths and 109 in reading. The school does not publish progress scores, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils' starting points, but the attainment outcomes are clearly very strong.

The school offers a good range of facilities for its size, including an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, dining hall, sensory room and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, athletics, dance and cricket, and there are clubs such as science club, chess, eco club and choir. For children with additional needs, the school has stated SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed, so families considering it should be prepared to apply as a first preference. It is a small, high-attaining village primary that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a close-knit setting, and who are comfortable with the limited capacity. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is St Joseph's Catholic Primary, 3.3 km away, for those who might also want a Catholic option.

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