Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School, Matlock
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Matlock. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 16 schools in Matlock with published results, and 12,107th of 14,452 across England. It was 49% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Derbyshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Derbyshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 100% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 2 families put Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School as their first choice and 4 named it as one of their preferences, for 2 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School are Matlock Bath Holy Trinity CofE Controlled Primary School (0.9 miles, Good); Cromford Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 43% reading, 43% maths); St Giles Church of England Primary and Nursery School (1.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths); and Middleton Community Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 94% maths).
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Matlock Bath Holy Trinity CofE Controlled Primary SchoolCromford Church of England Primary SchoolSt Giles Church of England Primary and Nursery SchoolMiddleton Community Primary School
Who goes there
15.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 8 pupils (21.1%) received SEN support and 1 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Matlock Bath Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fountain (opposite), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Derbyshire (50).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School issued 1 suspension, 2.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Most pupils love coming to school and arrive on time. Pupils of all ages get on well with each other. They like sitting with their 'family' to share lunch and playing together outside. The oldest pupils organise activities for their younger peers to enjoy. Strong relationships help pupils feel included and well looked after.
Staff model good behaviour and most pupils follow their example. Pupils know they should always try their best. They like being rewarded with 'WOW whales' when they do a good job. Pupils usually settle well to their learning, although they occasionally get distracted from the task in hand. They understand that they will lose a behaviour point if they misbehave.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum in most subjects is carefully thought out. Children in the early years follow a well-planned programme. There are plenty of opportunities for them to develop their numeracy and literacy skills. They like to be creative, for instance by producing artwork in different styles, and they enjoy learning in the well-resourced outdoor environment. Close communication with parents and carers allows the school to share examples of children's achievements. Working alongside their older peers in key stage 1 prepares children well for Year 1.
Children start learning to read as soon as they join the school. Phonics is taught consistently well by skilled staff. Pupils recall the sounds they know already and practise recognising new ones. Their knowledge of phonics is tracked closely so that staff can quickly plug any gaps. Pupils read suitable books and can decipher increasingly difficult words. They make effective use of their phonic knowledge to help them write. Their handwriting gets better with practice, and they present their work well.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
15.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 100% to 57% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 83% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
12.7
Avg class size
10.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School
Term dates
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Derbyshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School is in Derbyshire; for families living there:
- Derbyshire's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy 2026 to 2027 - 465KB
- How to apply: Apply for home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School
Will you get a place at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Derbyshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Derbyshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
49%
Available places
40 pupils
81 places
41 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Matlock
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Matlock
Across Derbyshire council
Places available
9,875
Applications
7,189
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Derbyshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
38
Total Pupils
23
Boys
15
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
12.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,612
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,749
Per pupil
£377k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
9.1%
Persistent absence
33
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 57% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School is oversubscribed, Derbyshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 49% of its 81 places.
How big are the classes at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Classes at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School average 12.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School has around 38 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
3.8% of sessions were missed at Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School in 2024/25. 9.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Apply through Derbyshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Derbyshire is 6 (the median across 454 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School?
Bonsall CofE (A) Primary School is at Church Street, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2AE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)