Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School

Rowsley CofE Primary School is performing well overall, rated as good in multiple categories including the quality of education and leadership. Pupils express their enjoyment and pride in attending this small, welcoming school where strong relationships between staff and students foster a positive learning environment. There is a clear commitment to developing pupils' personal growth, particularly through engaging experiences that promote respect and empathy for others. The school's proactive approach to safeguarding and the effective support for pupils with special educational needs further enhance its reputation within the community. However, some areas require attention, particularly in the alignment of curriculum intent with implementation in certain subjects. While the curriculum is ambitious, gaps in knowledge for some students, especially those with SEND, hinder their full potential. Alongside this, the assessment strategies need refining to better inform teaching practices and address any persistent knowledge gaps among pupils, ensuring all students can progress effectively through their learning journey.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils foster a positive learning environment.
• Ambitious curriculum in most subjects with a clear focus on essential knowledge and skills.
• Outstanding personal development initiatives prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
• High expectations for pupils contribute to a love of learning.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil welfare.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum in some subjects.
• Knowledge gaps for some pupils with SEND are not always addressed before moving on to new learning.
• Assessment practices do not always effectively shape future teaching.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.6% of pupils at Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School had 15.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 20.0% of pupils at Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School received £11,009 and spent £10,585 for each of its 60 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £206,000 (£3,434 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Matlock · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School have?

Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School has 60 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School cover?

Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School?

Rowsley CofE (Controlled) Primary School is at Woodhouse Road, Rowsley, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2ED.