SchoolScoresChrist Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Park Road, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2BJ
01422 832454 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 December 2012.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 1 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Sowerby Bridge comparisons use the 3 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Sowerby Bridge | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 93% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern 27th highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Calderdale. Higher than 7% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | – | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 35%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Sowerby Bridge figures pool parents at the Sowerby Bridge schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
28 pupils in this year group.
68% — 6 points above the Calderdale average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Calderdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 68% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 82% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Calderdale. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 11 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 9 |
| Of those, offered a place | 9 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 18 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Calderdale | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 41.7% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 4.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 14.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 15.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Lower than 34% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 11.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 70% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.3 | 21.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Sowerby Bridge. Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Nearby primary schools
- Bolton Brow Primary Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warley Town School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warley Road Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- New Road Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norland CE School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parkinson Lane Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Savile Park Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013), confirmed 2024 · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 December 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 1 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
72% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 9 families put Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School as their first choice for 11 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 9 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 107554.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.