Bowdon CofE Primary School, Altrincham
Bowdon CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Altrincham. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 17 schools in Altrincham with published results, and 2,040th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Trafford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bowdon CofE Primary School in detail
Bowdon CofE Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "For the very latest PTA News, please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bowdonpta/"
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include netball, hockey and drama.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Bowdon CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 84% and 82% in Trafford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 92% in reading and 92% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Bowdon CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 103 families put Bowdon CofE Primary School as their first choice and 197 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 15 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Bowdon CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bowdon CofE Primary School are Bollin Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 90% reading, 83% maths); Stamford Park Primary School (1 mile, Good, 93% reading, 85% maths); Altrincham CofE (Aided) Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 77% maths); and St Vincent's Catholic Primary School (1.3 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 93% maths).
Bowdon CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Bollin Primary SchoolStamford Park Primary SchoolAltrincham CofE (Aided) Primary SchoolSt Vincent's Catholic Primary School
What parents say
167 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bowdon CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 76% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (76%).
Who goes there
5.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 102 pupils (16.4%) received SEN support and 18 (2.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hale Rail Station, about 900 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bowdon Primary School (outside), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bowdon CofE Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bowdon CofE Primary School are Altrincham Grammar School for Boys (0.3 miles), Altrincham Grammar School for Girls (0.6 miles), North Cestrian School (1.1 miles) and Loreto Grammar School (1.1 miles).
Altrincham Grammar School for BoysAltrincham Grammar School for GirlsNorth Cestrian SchoolLoreto Grammar School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bowdon CofE Primary School excels at creating a welcoming, caring environment where every child feels known and valued. The school has a strong, well-structured curriculum that builds knowledge progressively from Reception to Year 6, with particular strength in reading. Pupils develop into polite, self-assured young people with exemplary behaviour and a genuine sense of belonging.
Key Strengths
- High academic achievement with pupils consistently meeting excellent expectations and achieving outstanding results
- Strong emphasis on reading from Reception onwards, with additional support for struggling readers
- Excellent personal development provision helping pupils become responsible, respectful citizens
- Exciting range of extra-curricular activities and enrichment experiences
- Effective identification and support for pupils with special educational needs
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, cheerleading, mindful drawing, music performances, drama, lacrosse, girls' football, theatre trips, outdoor learning, residential visits
Bowdon CofE Primary School has successfully maintained its outstanding standards. Pupils arrive happily each day, feel well cared for, and actively live out the school's vision of 'Loving, learning and growing together'.
At a Glance
5.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
167 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.1
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
21
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bowdon CofE Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bowdon CofE Primary School.
- Kids Collective @ BowdonAt the school · Not yet graded
- Trafford Tuition at Bowdon Church SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- LSC @ The Grammar390m away · Not yet graded
- Kids Collective @ Bollin630m away · Not yet graded
- Kumon Altrincham720m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Bowdon CofE Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Trafford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bowdon CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bowdon CofE Primary School is in Trafford; for families living there:
Apply to Trafford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 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 Bowdon CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Bowdon CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bowdon CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bowdon CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bowdon CofE Primary School.
- Trafford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Bowdon CofE Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bowdon CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Trafford 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
99%
Near capacity
622 pupils
630 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Altrincham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Altrincham
Across Trafford council
Places available
2,990
Applications
2,238
Got 1st preference
94.5%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Trafford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
102
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
19.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
622
Total Pupils
313
Boys
309
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,488
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,989
Per pupil
£3250k
Total funding
£36k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.0%
Overall absence
4.0%
Persistent absence
544
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Bowdon CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bowdon CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is Bowdon CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bowdon CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2020, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Bowdon CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bowdon CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Trafford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Bowdon CofE Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Classes at Bowdon CofE Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Bowdon CofE Primary School has around 622 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bowdon CofE Primary School?
3% of sessions were missed at Bowdon CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Apply through Trafford's coordinated admissions process, naming Bowdon CofE 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.
Does Bowdon CofE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Kids Collective @ Bowdon (registered, not yet graded) and Trafford Tuition at Bowdon Church School (registered, not yet graded). There are 3 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Trafford is 11 (the median across 103 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bowdon CofE Primary School?
Bowdon CofE Primary School is at Grange Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 3EX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)