St Anne's CofE Primary School, Bakewell Review 2026: Small village primary with standout KS2 outcomes

A small Church of England primary in Baslow with an ambitious curriculum and a strong sense of shared values. The most recent Ofsted inspection (30 November and 1 December 2022) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding judgements for behaviour and attitudes and for personal development.

Academically, the most recent Key Stage 2 measures in this profile are well above England averages. At the combined expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, 81% of pupils met the benchmark, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 33.67% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. These figures point to a school that does well both at securing strong baseline attainment and at stretching its higher attainers.

It is also a small school by design. The school runs five classes across seven year groups, with some cohorts split across classes to make the structure work.

The tone here is purposeful and values-led. The school’s language around respect, kindness and celebrating difference runs through day-to-day expectations, and pupils are encouraged to take responsibility, including through leadership roles and house points.

Leadership continuity is a notable feature for parents weighing stability. The headteacher is Mrs Marie Clark. A published governance statement lists her as headteacher (ex officio) from 01 September 2013 to date, suggesting a long tenure and a settled leadership culture.

The Christian character is explicit without being narrow. Pupils learn about other faiths and cultures, and inclusion is treated as a practical habit, not a slogan. The most recent church school inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) took place in July 2019, which gives some additional external context on the school’s Church of England life, even though it is now several years old.

This profile places the school in a strong position nationally and locally.

FindMySchool ranking (based on official data)

ranked 2034th in England and 1st in Bakewell for primary outcomes. This sits comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England, which is a helpful shorthand for parents comparing options beyond the immediate village area. (These are FindMySchool rankings derived from official performance data.)

At Key Stage 2, the attainment picture is consistently strong:

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths): 81%, versus an England average of 62%.

• Higher standard (greater depth across reading, writing, maths): 33.67%, versus an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores: Reading 107, Maths 108, Grammar, punctuation and spelling 109.

Taken together, that looks like a school that does not just lift pupils to the expected threshold but also pushes a meaningful proportion into higher attainment.

Curriculum thinking is one of the school’s defining strengths. The latest inspection highlights sequencing and the idea of pupils building knowledge over time, with pupils able to recall prior learning and apply technical vocabulary across subjects. Computing is a good example, where pupils are expected to understand precise terms (such as the concept of an algorithm) rather than simply completing activities.

Early reading is treated as a priority. A consistent phonics approach and quick identification of pupils who may fall behind are part of the school’s core method. One improvement point from the latest inspection is tightly focused on Reception practice, specifically making sure every child gets fully matched early-reading books as early as possible. That is a practical issue rather than a strategic weakness, and it is the kind of detail that often matters to families with children who need early confidence as readers.

Language learning also appears intentional rather than tokenistic. Policy documents reference a link between language choices in key stage 2 and what pupils encounter when they move on to secondary school, which should make transition academically smoother.

For most families, the key transition question is Year 6 to Year 7. School documentation refers to Lady Manners School as the feeder secondary, which gives a clear default pathway for local families planning ahead.

Beyond naming a likely destination, what matters is preparation. The latest inspection describes pupils developing a broad understanding of the wider world and learning practical life knowledge, including financial literacy, alongside academic content. That kind of preparation tends to translate into confidence in the move to secondary school, especially for pupils who benefit from structure and clear expectations.

Families considering alternatives to the usual secondary route should ask directly about transition support and liaison, especially if a child will be moving out of area, since a small school’s transition work often relies on established local relationships.

Reception admissions are local authority coordinated through Derbyshire. For September 2026 entry, Derbyshire’s published timeline shows online applications opening on 10 November 2025, with the deadline at midnight on 15 January 2026, and offers issued on 16 April 2026.

Demand can vary year to year at small village schools. The admissions data in this profile indicates pressure in the most recent cycle covered, with 29 applications for 12 offers, a subscription ratio of 2.42 applications per place, and an oversubscribed status. At the same time, the school’s own Early Years admissions page suggests there is typically space for families outside the immediate Baslow and Bubnell area, so it is sensible to treat competitiveness as variable rather than fixed.

A practical step for families is to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to understand distance patterns for nearby primaries and to sense-check how realistic a place might be in a given year, particularly when cohorts fluctuate.

Visits matter here, not as a marketing exercise, but because small schools can feel very different depending on a child’s temperament. The school advertises visits and has previously run an Early Years open event in October, which is a typical time window for Reception decision-making.

Safeguarding is treated as a high priority, with clear processes and strong links to external agencies when support is needed. The safeguarding arrangements were confirmed as effective at the latest inspection, and pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, including online.

Day-to-day pastoral support is also reinforced by systems that fit a small school. There is mention of buddying, with older pupils supporting younger pupils who are feeling upset, and a strong emphasis on belonging and inclusion.

The website also signposts mental wellbeing resources, including support materials linked to managing anxiety around residential trips, which is a detail parents often appreciate because it acknowledges common worries in a practical way.

The school puts real weight behind enrichment, particularly music, sport and pupil leadership.

Music is unusually prominent for a small primary. The school describes itself as a Derbyshire Music Lead School and lists specific opportunities including Choir for Years 1 to 6 on Friday mornings (8:25am), a Key Stage 2 Music Theory Club, and Recorder Club. A music development plan also references clubs such as musical theatre and recorder boppers, plus access to peripatetic instrument teaching. The implication for families is that children who enjoy performing, or who benefit from structured practice routines, are likely to find a supportive culture here.

Sport and clubs include named options such as judo, girls’ and boys’ football, musical theatre, and a wider set of clubs referenced in the latest inspection, including STEM, choir and sports clubs. This matters because small schools can sometimes offer limited choice, yet the range listed here suggests a deliberate attempt to keep experiences broad.

Big experiences are also part of the rhythm of the school year. Trip information published by the school includes residential programmes in Years 4, 5 and 6, and participation in Young Voices at Sheffield Arena for Key Stage 2 pupils as an annual opportunity. These are the sorts of events that help a small cohort build confidence and teamwork, particularly for pupils who thrive when learning has a clear real-world goal.

Parents comparing local options can use FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool to put these enrichment features alongside academic outcomes, which often helps clarify what matters most for a particular child.

The school day is structured clearly. Pupils arrive between 8:40am and 8:45am, with gates closing at 9:00am. Finish times vary slightly by class, with some pupils finishing at 3:15pm and others at 3:20pm.

Wraparound care is provided through an external arrangement. The school points families to the 623 breakfast and after-school club (including holiday care), with transport provided between the club and school, and also references an after-school sports club held at Baslow Sports Field on set weekdays. For parents, the key implication is that childcare is available but not necessarily on the school site, so travel logistics should be checked early.

For day-to-day costs, school meals are listed at £3.25 per day from Year 3 upwards, which is useful for budgeting even in a state-funded setting.

• Small-school dynamics. With five classes covering seven year groups, class organisation sometimes includes cohorts split across classes. This can work very well socially, but it is worth asking how mixed-age or split arrangements look in practice for your child.

• Competition may fluctuate. Published admissions indicators show oversubscription in the most recent cycle captured in this profile, yet the school also suggests it typically has space for out-of-area applicants. Treat entry pressure as variable, and keep alternative options active until offers are confirmed.

• Early reading in Reception. The latest inspection flagged a specific improvement point about ensuring fully matched early-reading books for all children in the early years as early as possible. Parents of emerging readers may want to ask how this has been addressed.

• Wraparound logistics. Childcare exists, but it includes an external breakfast and after-school club with transport. For some families this is ideal, for others it adds complexity to the day.

St Anne’s CofE Primary School, Bakewell offers a well-structured education with strong KS2 attainment and clear values that shape behaviour and personal development. It suits families who want a small-school feel, strong academic fundamentals, and a meaningful music and enrichment offer, within a Church of England setting. The main consideration is practical rather than philosophical, namely how admissions pressure and wraparound logistics play out in a given year.