Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #143 in Leicestershire public Top 60% UK

Great Bowden Academy, A Church of England Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Sarah Bishop

corporate_fareLEARN ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onMarket Harborough, LE16 7HZ

language Visit Website phone 1858463216

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

123

school

Expected Standard

60%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.1x

summarize

Great Bowden Academy, A Church of England Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Market Harborough, serving ages 4-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 60% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Great Bowden Academy, A Church of England Primary School is an academy converter in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of LEARN ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 138 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 10% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #143 of 211 primaries in Leicestershire and #10,293 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 61%

Reading80% LA 77%

Writing80% LA 71%

Maths70% LA 75%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading85% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing77% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths69% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

76%

LA 61%England 60%

Reading94% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing82% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths76% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.8

Read

LA 0.2

0.6 to 7.0

-1.8

Write

LA -0.1

-4.8 to 1.3

-0.1

Maths

LA 0.0

-3.2 to 3.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

68%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading74% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing84% LA 80% · Eng 78%

Maths74% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.0

Read

LA -0.1

-7.8 to -2.1

-2.4

Write

LA 0.1

-5.1 to 0.2

-4.2

Maths

LA -0.1

-6.7 to -1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

89%

LA 65%

Reading89% LA 76%

Writing95% LA 79%

Maths89% LA 77%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA -0.2

-3.6 to 1.8

-0.1

Write

LA 0.0

-2.7 to 2.5

-3.1

Maths

LA -0.3

-5.5 to -0.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 October 2024

Inspection Report

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08 October 2020

Inspection Report

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10 September 2014

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2014-09-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-03-11

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 138 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	136	5	3.7%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	134	6	4.5%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	136	2	1.5%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	131	2	1.5%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	124	2	1.6%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	123	1	0.8%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	119	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	125	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	129	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	127	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	133	1	0.8%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	135	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	138	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	138	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	138	1	0.7%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	138	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	134	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	135	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	136	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	137	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	140	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	139	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	134	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	135	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	133	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

12.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree71%

agree24%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree64%

agree26%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree12%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

not applicable36%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree62%

agree24%

disagree5%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree31%

disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree5%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree29%

disagree5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree86%

agree12%

disagree2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree71%

agree24%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Primary Schools in Leicestershire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Fossebrook Primary School

Good

location_on Leicester, LE3 3FF

emoji_events #1 in LA

Millfield L.E.A.D. Academy

Good

location_on Leicester, LE3 2WF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Newcroft Primary Academy

Outstanding

location_on Loughborough, LE12 9DU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Sileby Redlands Community Primary School

Good

location_on Loughborough, LE12 7LZ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brookside Primary School

Good

location_on Leicester, LE2 4FU

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Peter's Church of England Primary School (Market Bosworth)

Good

location_on Nuneaton, CV13 0NP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Leicestershire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Leicestershire

Fossebrook Primary School

Millfield L.E.A.D. Academy

Newcroft Primary Academy

Sileby Redlands Community Primary School

Brookside Primary School

St Peter's Church of England Primary School (Market Bosworth)