Bowerhill Primary School, Melksham
Bowerhill Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Melksham, part of The White Horse Federation. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 8 schools in Melksham with published results, and 7,614th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wiltshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bowerhill Primary School in detail
Bowerhill Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At Bowerhill Primary School, we believe that our colleagues are among the finest in the country, and we are proud to empower them through support, training, and career opportunities. With such outstanding staff, we are able to ensure every student achieves all that they are capable of and more, regardless of background, culture, heritage, or ability."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include guitar and art.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Bowerhill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 73% in Wiltshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Bowerhill Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 55 families put Bowerhill Primary School as their first choice and 82 named it as one of their preferences, for 55 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 Bowerhill Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bowerhill Primary School are Aloeric Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 58% reading, 64% maths); Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 83% maths); The Manor CofE VC Primary School (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 68% maths); and River Mead School (1.5 miles, Good, 47% reading, 44% maths).
Bowerhill Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Aloeric Primary SchoolForest and Sandridge Church of England Primary SchoolThe Manor CofE VC Primary SchoolRiver Mead School
The trust
Bowerhill Primary School is one of 30 schools run by The White Horse Federation, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
16.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 82 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 10 (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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Melksham Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mitchell Drive (opposite), 200 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bowerhill Primary School issued 31 suspensions, 7.7 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 multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
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?
Pupils are proud to attend Bowerhill Primary. They feel safe due to the strong relationships they have with staff. Pupils are keen to take on roles of responsibility such as eco-councillors and school ambassadors. These help them understand the meaning of democracy and respect.
Staff expect pupils to work hard, and they do. In lessons, most pupils settle down to learning promptly. They focus well and willingly offer their views and ideas. Around the school, pupils are well mannered and courteous to each other and adults. Pupils are confident that they can rely on adults to resolve any worries or concerns they have.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Since the previous inspection, the school and trust have acted quickly to raise expectations and develop an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
The school gives reading a high priority. It has invested in new and engaging texts to capture pupils' interests and develop a love of reading. Older pupils confidently discuss books they read. They make links between different authors and themes. Many express the view that reading 'sucks you into different places'. Most pupils read fluently by the time they leave the school.
From Ofsted's June 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 June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
16.4%
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 78% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.3
Avg class size
24.5
Infant (KS1)
28.8
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Bowerhill Primary School
TWHF gifts educational book bag to new reception pupils
27 Jul 2026
TWHF Primary Sporting Excellence 2026
16 Jul 2026
A Proactive Approach to Allergy Management
30 Jun 2026
Changes to Free School Meals Guidance
12 Jun 2026
TWHF Shortlisted for Two Awards at ‘The Oscars of Education’
8 May 2026
National Primary Offer Day 2026
16 Apr 2026
From Bowerhill Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Bowerhill Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bowerhill Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bowerhill Primary School is in Wiltshire; for families living there:
Apply to Wiltshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
5 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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 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 Bowerhill Primary School
Will you get a place at Bowerhill Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bowerhill Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bowerhill Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bowerhill Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wiltshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bowerhill Primary School for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wiltshire 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
96%
Near capacity
402 pupils
420 places
18 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Melksham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Melksham
Across Wiltshire council
Places available
6,156
Applications
4,455
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Wiltshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
82
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
24.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
378
Total Pupils
179
Boys
199
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,777
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2164k
Total funding
£105k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
356
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
Bowerhill Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bowerhill Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bowerhill Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bowerhill Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Bowerhill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bowerhill Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2022 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Bowerhill Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bowerhill Primary School is oversubscribed, Wiltshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bowerhill Primary School?
Bowerhill Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Bowerhill Primary School?
Classes at Bowerhill Primary School average 27.3 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 Bowerhill Primary School?
Bowerhill Primary School has around 378 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bowerhill Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Bowerhill Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bowerhill Primary School?
Apply through Wiltshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bowerhill 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 Bowerhill Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 5 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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bowerhill Primary School?
Bowerhill Primary School is at Halifax Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6YH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)