Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #47 in Wiltshire public Top 48% UK

Bowerhill Primary School

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

personMr Christopher Light

corporate_fareTHE WHITE HORSE FEDERATION

location_onMelksham, SN12 6YH

language Visit Website phone 1225700964

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

406

school

Expected Standard

65%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Bowerhill Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Melksham, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 48% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Bowerhill Primary School is an academy converter in Melksham, Wiltshire, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of THE WHITE HORSE FEDERATION. The school has approximately 401 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 12% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #47 of 174 primaries in Wiltshire and #6,359 of 14,143 nationally.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.4 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

65%

LA 58%

Reading73% LA 73%

Writing78% LA 69%

Maths80% LA 71%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading78% LA 74% · Eng 74%

Writing83% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths83% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

64%

LA 56%England 60%

Reading77% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths79% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.0

Read

LA 0.5

-0.6 to 2.6

1.1

Write

LA -0.1

-0.4 to 2.6

1.0

Maths

LA -0.9

-0.5 to 2.5

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading63% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths71% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.2

Read

LA 0.1

-5.8 to -2.6

-2.7

Write

LA -0.4

-4.2 to -1.2

-2.7

Maths

LA -0.8

-4.1 to -1.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 62%

Reading-% LA 76%

Writing-% LA 77%

Maths-% LA 72%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.2

Write

LA -0.5

Maths

LA -0.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 June 2024

Inspection Report

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01 February 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-06-11

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2022-02-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-04-25

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-03-13

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

3.5%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(7 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 401 pupils. During this period, there were 14 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.5%, which is above 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)	401	14	3.5%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	393	13	3.3%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	400	7	1.8%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	405	7	1.7%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	402	12	3.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	408	7	1.7%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	406	3	0.7%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	402	5	1.2%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	407	4	1.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	404	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	401	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	415	2	0.5%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	413	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	409	1	0.2%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	408	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	408	1	0.2%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	407	2	0.5%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	404	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	407	3	0.7%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	404	2	0.5%	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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 36 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 28 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 12 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree43%

agree49%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree66%

agree25%

disagree7%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree45%

agree28%

disagree4%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

not applicable12%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree24%

agree33%

disagree19%

strongly disagree19%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree37%

agree52%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree39%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree51%

agree39%

disagree9%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree60%

agree31%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree54%

agree39%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree42%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Primary Schools in Wiltshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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St. Peter's CE Primary Academy

Good

location_on Salisbury, SP2 9FL

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Colerne CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Chippenham, SN14 8DU

emoji_events #2 in LA

Mere School

Good

location_on Warminster, BA12 6EW

emoji_events #3 in LA

Ashton Keynes Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Swindon, SN6 6NZ

emoji_events #4 in LA

Pewsey Primary School

Good

location_on Pewsey, SN9 5EJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Michael's CofE Aided Primary

Outstanding

location_on Marlborough, SN8 2BP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Wiltshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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 Wiltshire

St. Peter's CE Primary Academy

Colerne CofE Primary School

Mere School

Ashton Keynes Church of England Primary School

Pewsey Primary School

St Michael's CofE Aided Primary