Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School

Calderdale · HX6 2BJ

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 70 pupils, 45.7% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 24.3% on SEN support Behaviour 5.6% absence rate Staff 18.8% turnover Financials £10,853 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School

General Information

Address: Park Road, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2BJ – View on map
Phone: 01422832454
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Miss Alison Embleton
Age range: 3-11 years
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

70 pupils out of 210 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 32
% eligible for free school meals: 45.7%
Pupil mix: 1 in 10 (less mixed than the Calderdale average)
English as an additional language: 1% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 18.8% a year (Calderdale 16.3%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 27% moved to another school, 73% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Calderdale: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 2 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 1 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 1 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Calderdale, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 5.6%
Persistently absent pupils: 17.4%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 24.3%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 5.7%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Moderate learning difficulty: 5 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 4 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 4 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 2 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 2 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil
Hearing impairment: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 68% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 7% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 6 percentage points above the Calderdale average (62%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Above (3-year average 67% against an expected 60%)
3-year average (expected standard): 67%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 79% · Writing 71% · Maths 82% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 79%
Average test scores: reading 104, maths 104
Based on: 28 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolCalderdale averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 6 percentage points above the Calderdale average (62%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 28th of 76 junior and primary schools in the area

=24Warley Road Primary Academy70%
#27Salterhebble Junior and Infant School69%
=28Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School68%
=28Holywell Green Primary School68%
=28St Andrew's CofE (VA) Junior School68%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy95%
#2Wainstalls School91%
#3St John's Primary School In Rishworth89%
#4The Greetland Academy86%
#5Abbey Park Academy85%
=6Bailiffe Bridge Junior and Infant School83%
=6St Mary's CofE (VC) J and I School83%
#8West Vale Academy82%
#9Trinity Academy St Chad's81%
=10Luddendenfoot Academy80%
=10Norland CE School80%
=12Bowling Green Academy79%
=12St John's (CofE) Primary Academy, Clifton79%
#14Bradshaw Primary School78%
=15All Saints' CofE Primary School77%
=15Dean Field Community Primary School77%
#17Barkisland CofE VA Primary School76%
#18Scout Road Academy75%
#19Woodhouse Primary School74%
=20Shade Primary School72%
=20Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary School72%
=22Riverside Junior School71%
=22Trinity Academy St Peter's71%
=24Colden Junior and Infant School70%
=24Northowram Primary School70%
=24Warley Road Primary Academy70%
#27Salterhebble Junior and Infant School69%
=28Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School68%
=28Holywell Green Primary School68%
=28St Andrew's CofE (VA) Junior School68%
=31Bolton Brow Primary Academy67%
=31Copley Primary School67%
=31Luddenden CofE School67%
=31Trinity Academy Whitehill67%
=35St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy, Brighouse65%
=35Warley Town School65%
=37Cross Lane Primary and Nursery School64%
=37Lightcliffe C of E Primary School64%
=37Ripponden Junior and Infant School64%
=40Carr Green Primary School63%
=40Mount Pellon Primary Academy63%
=40Old Earth Primary School63%
=43Beech Hill School62%
=43St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy62%
=45Holy Trinity Primary School, A Church of England Academy61%
=45Lee Mount Academy61%
=45Parkinson Lane Community Primary School61%
=45Triangle CofE VC Primary School61%
=49Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy60%
=49St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre School60%
=51Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School59%
=51Longroyde Primary School59%
=51Withinfields Primary School59%
=54St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy58%
=54The Halifax Academy58%
=56St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy56%
=56Todmorden CofE J, I & N School56%
=58Moorside Community Primary School55%
=58Trinity Academy Akroydon55%
#60Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary School52%
=61Cliffe Hill Community Primary School50%
=61Hebden Royd CofE Primary School50%
#63Shelf Junior and Infant School48%
#64New Road Primary School47%
#65Ferney Lee Primary School46%
=66Ash Green Community Primary School42%
=66Castle Hill Primary School42%
=66Salterlee Primary School42%
=66Savile Park Primary School42%
#70St Augustine's CofE School36%
#71St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy33%
#72Siddal Primary School32%
#73Burnley Road Academy27%
#74Field Lane Primary School18%
=75Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School12%
=75Elland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery School12%

View full Ofsted inspection report

18th of 61 primary schools in Calderdale for Ofsted rating

#16Castle Hill Primary SchoolGood
#17Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary SchoolGood
#18Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary SchoolGood
#19Cliffe Hill Community Primary SchoolGood
#20Colden Junior and Infant SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1All Saints' CofE Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Luddendenfoot AcademyOutstanding
#3Northowram Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Old Earth Primary SchoolOutstanding
#5Old Town Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6Parkinson Lane Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#7Abbey Park AcademyGood
#8Ash Green Community Primary SchoolGood
#9Bailiffe Bridge Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#10Barkisland CofE VA Primary SchoolGood
#11Beech Hill SchoolGood
#12Bolton Brow Primary AcademyGood
#13Bowling Green AcademyGood
#14Bradshaw Primary SchoolGood
#15Carr Green Primary SchoolGood
#16Castle Hill Primary SchoolGood
#17Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary SchoolGood
#18Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary SchoolGood
#19Cliffe Hill Community Primary SchoolGood
#20Colden Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#21Copley Primary SchoolGood
#22Cross Lane Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#23Dean Field Community Primary SchoolGood
#24Ferney Lee Primary SchoolGood
#25Field Lane Primary SchoolGood
#26Hebden Royd CofE Primary SchoolGood
#27Heptonstall Junior Infant and Nursery SchoolGood
#28Holywell Green Primary SchoolGood
#29Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery SchoolGood
#30Midgley SchoolGood
#31Moorside Community Primary SchoolGood
#32Mount Pellon Primary AcademyGood
#33New Road Primary SchoolGood
#34Ripponden Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#35Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary AcademyGood
#36Salterhebble Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#37Salterlee Primary SchoolGood
#38Savile Park Primary SchoolGood
#39Scout Road AcademyGood
#40Shade Primary SchoolGood
#41Shelf Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#42Siddal Primary SchoolGood
#43St John's Primary School In RishworthGood
#44St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy, BrighouseGood
#45St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary AcademyGood
#46St Mary's Catholic Primary AcademyGood
#47St Mary's CofE (VC) J and I SchoolGood
#48St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre SchoolGood
#49St Patrick's Catholic Primary AcademyGood
#50Todmorden CofE J, I & N SchoolGood
#51Triangle CofE VC Primary SchoolGood
#52Trinity Academy AkroydonGood
#53Trinity Academy St Chad'sGood
#54Trinity Academy St Peter'sGood
#55Trinity Academy WhitehillGood
#56Wainstalls SchoolGood
#57Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary SchoolGood
#58Warley Road Primary AcademyGood
#59Warley Town SchoolGood
#60Woodhouse Primary SchoolGood
#61Luddenden CofE SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £10,853 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

1st of 76 primary schools in Calderdale for spending per pupil

#1Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School£10,853
#2Colden Junior and Infant School£10,468
#3Elland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery School£10,155

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Christ Church Sowerby Bridge CofE (VA) Primary School£10,853
#2Colden Junior and Infant School£10,468
#3Elland Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Junior, Infant and Nursery School£10,155
#4West Vale Academy£10,119
#5Christ Church Pellon CofE VC Primary School£9,916
#6Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School£9,773
#7Field Lane Primary School£9,771
#8St Mary's CofE (VC) J and I School£9,569
#9Cliffe Hill Community Primary School£9,460
#10Ash Green Community Primary School£9,429
#11Norland CE School£9,410
#12Moorside Community Primary School£9,381
#13St Joseph's Roman Catholic Voluntary Academy£8,826
#14Heptonstall Junior Infant and Nursery School£8,811
#15Savile Park Primary School£8,631
#16St Augustine's CofE School£8,487
#17Luddenden CofE School£8,474
#18Holywell Green Primary School£8,332
#19Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy£8,288
#20Trinity Academy St Peter's£8,253
#21St Patrick's Catholic Primary Academy£8,057
#22Scout Road Academy£7,990
#23Midgley School£7,982
#24St Malachy's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy£7,969
#25Salterlee Primary School£7,892
#26St Michael and All Angels CofE Primary & Pre School£7,859
#27Hebden Royd CofE Primary School£7,822
#28Cross Lane Primary and Nursery School£7,695
#29St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy£7,685
#30Ripponden Junior and Infant School£7,649
#31Lee Mount Academy£7,610
#32Castle Hill Primary School£7,593
#33Ferney Lee Primary School£7,573
#34Barkisland CofE VA Primary School£7,523
#35Withinfields Primary School£7,472
#36Holy Trinity Primary School, A Church of England Academy£7,470
#37Todmorden CofE J, I & N School£7,461
#38Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School£7,447
#39Old Earth Primary School£7,371
#40Abbey Park Academy£7,326
#41Trinity Academy Akroydon£7,271
#42Dean Field Community Primary School£7,135
#43Bowling Green Academy£7,088
#44St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy£7,077
#45Bradshaw Primary School£7,049
#46Warley Town School£7,046
#47New Road Primary School£6,980
#48Parkinson Lane Community Primary School£6,910
#49Siddal Primary School£6,893
#50Walsden St Peter's CE (VC) Primary School£6,890
#51Mount Pellon Primary Academy£6,871
#52Trinity Academy St Chad's£6,865
#53Shade Primary School£6,858
#54Longroyde Primary School£6,829
#55Trinity Academy Whitehill£6,718
#56Salterhebble Junior and Infant School£6,637
#57St John's (CofE) Primary Academy, Clifton£6,607
#58Bailiffe Bridge Junior and Infant School£6,477
#59Warley Road Primary Academy£6,461
#60Triangle CofE VC Primary School£6,439
#61Carr Green Primary School£6,427
#62Beech Hill School£6,362
#63Bolton Brow Primary Academy£6,319
#64The Greetland Academy£6,316
#65St John's Primary School In Rishworth£6,179
#66St Joseph's Catholic Primary Academy, Brighouse£6,157
#67Shelf Junior and Infant School£6,116
#68All Saints' CofE Primary School£6,078
#69Northowram Primary School£6,024
#70Copley Primary School£5,996
#71Lightcliffe C of E Primary School£5,922
#72Woodhouse Primary School£5,577
#73Luddendenfoot Academy£5,435
#74Old Town Primary School£4,953
#75Wainstalls School£1,826
#76Burnley Road Academy£232

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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