Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School, Sowerby Bridge
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Sowerby Bridge. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 9 schools in Sowerby Bridge with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was 55% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Capacity
- 55% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Calderdale (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School in detail
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Christ Church CE (VA) Junior School is a small junior school for children aged 7-11, located in the heart of Sowerby Bridge. We have close links with Tuel Lane Infant School which is the feeder school. The school was built in 1971, replacing the Ellison Memorial School and had a classroom extension in 2004."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pleasure that we welcome you and your child to Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge, CE (VA) Primary School. Thank you for considering or choosing us to play a crucial role in your child's academic, physical, emotional and spiritual development over the next few years. We are truly honoured to do this."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Calderdale and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (85% in reading, 81% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
Across Calderdale, 97% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Calderdale lodged 45 appeals against primary school offers; 19 reached a hearing and 3 succeeded (15.8% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School are Bolton Brow Primary Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 77% maths); Tuel Lane Infant School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement); Warley Town School (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 75% maths); and Warley Road Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 78% reading, 82% maths).
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Bolton Brow Primary AcademyTuel Lane Infant SchoolWarley Town SchoolWarley Road Primary Academy
Who goes there
45.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 17 pupils (24.3%) received SEN support and 4 (5.7%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Sowerby Bridge Rail Station, about 580 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Christ Church School (at), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 214 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Calderdale (102), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School are Trinity Academy Grammar (0.2 miles), The Halifax Academy (0.9 miles), The Crossley Heath School (1.1 miles) and Ryburn Valley High School (1.3 miles).
Trinity Academy GrammarThe Halifax AcademyThe Crossley Heath SchoolRyburn Valley High School
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; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from December 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a wonderful school where children are at the heart of everything. Pupils flourish in a happy, calm environment where they're encouraged to be caring, responsible and respectful. The school excels at teaching reading and maths with lots of extra help for pupils who need it, and offers many clubs and activities to broaden children's experiences.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum that helps pupils make connections between different subjects and develop detailed knowledge
- Strong reading programme with effective support for struggling readers, helping all pupils achieve well and love reading
- Excellent behaviour and conduct, with pupils being kind, helpful and respectful to each other
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs who achieve well alongside their peers
- Wide range of clubs and enrichment activities including choir, film club, book club, art club and leadership roles
Areas for Improvement
- English curriculum needs clearer breakdown of key knowledge and skills pupils must learn to reach end goals, to ensure consistency across teaching
- Pupils' knowledge of faiths and cultures other than Christianity needs to be further developed and enhanced
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with all staff and governors knowing their role in keeping children safe, appropriate training on local risks, and clear curriculum teaching on online safety, fire safety, road safety, healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, film club, book club, art club, school council, eco council, junior leader roles, prayer leader roles, visits to local places of interest, outdoor learning days
Christ Church C of E VA Junior School is a good school where pupils grow in faith, learning and love in a happy, calm and purposeful environment. Leaders have high expectations and the school is deeply rooted in Christian values with strong links to the local church.
At a Glance
45.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 85% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.3
Avg class size
23.3
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
Newsletter 2.10.2026
2 Oct 2026
Bun Sale, Morning Breaks next week
2 Oct 2026
Reception Parents - Welcomm Language Screening Assessment
24 Sep 2026
Phonics drop-in sessions - Willows and Junipers classes
24 Sep 2026
Starting Reception - September 2027
24 Sep 2026
Italiano Lunch Day - 1st October
23 Sep 2026
From Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School is in Calderdale; for families living there:
Apply to Calderdale for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 30
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 30 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 17 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
7 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 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
Will you get a place at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Calderdale, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- How many families in Calderdale 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
55%
Available places
83 pupils
150 places
67 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sowerby Bridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sowerby Bridge
Across Calderdale council
Places available
2,848
Applications
1,863
Got 1st preference
96.6%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Calderdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
30.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
70
Total Pupils
37
Boys
33
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
14.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,610
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,777
Per pupil
£663k
Total funding
£53k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
86
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
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
Questions parents ask about Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School
What are SATs results like at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Of the pupils at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School is oversubscribed, Calderdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 55% of its 150 places.
How big are the classes at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Classes at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School average 23.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School has around 70 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Apply through Calderdale's coordinated admissions process, naming Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) 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 Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 30 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 17 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 7 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 Calderdale is 12 (the median across 114 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School?
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School is at Park Road, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 2BJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)