Bunny CofE Primary School Review 2026: High-performing village primary with strong early reading and a clear Christian ethos

A small Church of England primary at the centre of Bunny, with nursery provision and a very deliberate emphasis on values, reading, and community. The school’s own language describes its “treasures” as love, honesty, respect, courage, aspiration, and peace, and that framing shows up in classroom routines and wider expectations.

Academically, the picture is striking. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. The school’s scaled scores in reading (110), maths (110), and grammar, punctuation and spelling (109) also sit comfortably above typical national benchmarks. On FindMySchool’s primary outcomes ranking (based on official data), it is ranked 659th in England and 6th locally in Nottingham.

For families, the headline trade-off is obvious. This is a small school with strong results and limited places, and the latest available demand data indicates intense competition for entry, with 59 applications for 9 offers, around 6.56 applications per place.

Bunny’s scale is part of its identity. With a capacity of 105 pupils, it reads as a close-knit school where children are known and routines are consistent across year groups.

The Church of England character is not a badge, it is a daily thread. The school’s published vision and values talk explicitly about relationships, dignity, and community, and the timetable includes whole-school collective worship at the end of each day. In SIAMS terms, the school was graded Good at its most recent inspection (March 2018), with the report describing a nurturing Christian community and close links with local churches.

History matters here, but in a grounded, local way rather than as heritage marketing. Village sources record formal schooling in Bunny from 1700, when Sir Thomas Parkyns designed and built the first school; the current school building replaced an earlier one in 1968. For families who value a strong sense of place, that continuity, paired with a modern curriculum structure, is a persuasive combination.

Nursery provision is integrated into the school’s wider life. The curriculum sequencing described in inspection evidence is designed to run from Nursery through Year 6, which typically helps children experience fewer “joins” in approach as they move into Reception and Key Stage 1. Nursery sessions are offered within the school context, and eligible families can use government-funded early education hours; for current nursery pricing, the school directs families to its own information channels rather than publishing a simple headline figure.

The published figures suggest a school performing well above typical levels in England. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared to the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 30% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared to the England average of 8%.

The underlying scaled scores support that headline: reading 110, maths 110, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109, with a combined total of 329. These are the sorts of figures parents usually associate with consistently strong curriculum delivery and effective practice in early reading and key stage assessment preparation.

For families comparing options locally, the FindMySchool ranking provides added context. Bunny CofE Primary School is ranked 659th in England and 6th in Nottingham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), placing it well above the England average (top 10%).

A practical tip: if you are weighing several schools in the area, FindMySchool’s Local Hub comparison tools are useful for putting outcomes side-by-side, especially when cohorts are small and year-to-year changes can look dramatic on the surface.

The curriculum story is broadly coherent and deliberately sequenced, with most subjects setting out what pupils should learn and when. The school’s model places particular weight on early reading, vocabulary, and pupils speaking and writing in full sentences.

Early reading is a clear pillar. The inspection evidence describes a structured phonics programme taught from the start of Reception, with regular checks so children who need extra help receive it quickly. That approach aligns with the results profile: high proportions reaching expected standards, plus strong scaled scores.

Support for pupils who need extra help appears organised and prompt. The inspection evidence describes “same day” help for pupils identified as needing additional support, and it notes that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are supported to access the full curriculum, including becoming confident readers.

In early years, the detail that matters is not just the offer of nursery places, but the quality of the sequencing and relationships around it. The inspection evidence describes a well-planned early years curriculum and strong staff knowledge of children, which usually translates into calmer transitions into Reception and a more consistent baseline for phonics and early maths.

As a village primary, Bunny’s “next step” conversation is typically about local secondary transfer rather than multiple 11-plus pathways. In Nottinghamshire planning documents, Bunny is listed with a linked secondary as The South Wolds Academy, which helps parents orient around a likely default route, even though choices and patterns vary by family and by year.

Transition is also shaped by the school’s size. In small cohorts, friendship groups can be tight and children may worry about moving into a much larger Year 7 environment. Schools that plan well for this often use familiarisation visits and structured transition work to reduce anxiety and to encourage independence. Where this matters most is for quieter children, or those who have found security in a small-school dynamic.

For nursery families, the key “next step” is usually Reception. The school’s admissions information makes clear that nursery attendance does not remove the need to apply for a Reception place via the local authority process, and parents should plan on that basis from the outset.

Reception entry is coordinated through Nottinghamshire’s normal admissions round. For 2026 entry, the county admissions arrangements set out that applications open on 3 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, with National Offer Day identified as 16 April for reception places.

Demand for places looks high in the latest available data. There were 59 applications for 9 offers, which equates to about 6.56 applications per place. For a small school, that level of competition is significant and usually means families should treat Bunny as a “high preference” choice only if they are comfortable with realistic alternative options.

Nursery admissions are managed directly by the school rather than through the local authority route. The school’s published guidance suggests contacting the school for nursery admissions information, and parents should also factor in eligibility and timing for funded early education hours.

A practical tip: when distance is a decisive factor for oversubscribed schools, FindMySchool’s Map Search is a sensible way to sanity-check how your home location compares with recent offer patterns. Even where exact historic cut-offs are not published, accurate distance measurement is still useful for shortlisting.

The pastoral picture is notably steady. Relationships and behaviour are described as positive, with pupils playing together across ages and a simple, child-friendly approach to inclusion, including a “friendship bench” approach for children who need someone to talk to.

Safeguarding leadership roles are clearly set out on the school’s own website, including named safeguarding leads and a commitment to regular staff training, online safety education, and partnership working with external agencies when needed. The latest Ofsted report (July 2022) confirms that safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Faith and wellbeing also intersect. Whole-school collective worship is built into the daily rhythm, and the wider Christian ethos is framed around dignity, community, and respectful relationships rather than simply around compliance.

The after-school offer is specific and refreshingly practical. In Autumn term 2025, the school listed girls’ football (Years 3 to 6), boys’ football (Years 3 to 6), Construction club (Reception to Year 1), Bible Club (Years 1 to 6), and Young Voices choir (Years 3 to 6).

Inspection evidence also points to a broader enrichment pattern that fits the school’s size and values. Examples referenced include forest school, mindfulness club, and “spaghetti maths”, alongside singing and performance experiences that build confidence.

Wraparound care is a meaningful part of the extracurricular story, not an administrative add-on. Burrows Club runs breakfast provision from 7.30am to 8.45am and after-school provision from 3.25pm to 6.00pm, with sessions based in the school hall and delivered by the school’s own staff team. This matters for working families weighing a village location against commuting reality.

The school day structure is clearly published. Classroom doors open at 8.45am, with the school day ending at 3.25pm, and a daily block set aside for reading for pleasure and targeted interventions. Wraparound care is available through Burrows Club, including breakfast and after-school sessions during term time.

For travel, Bunny benefits from being on a direct bus corridor into Nottingham. Transport Nottingham lists Kinchbus 9 as serving Bunny (among other local stops), and the operator publishes route and timetable information for planning. For drop-off and pick-up, village-centre schools often require sensible expectations on parking and safe walking routes, particularly where roads are narrow and visibility is limited.

• Competition for places. The latest available demand data indicates 59 applications for 9 offers, around 6.56 applications per place. For many families, admission will be the limiting factor rather than the school’s quality.

• Small-school dynamics. A capacity around 105 can be ideal for children who thrive when adults know them well. It can be less comfortable for families seeking very large friendship groups or extensive team sports structures.

• Faith character is real. The Church of England ethos is woven through worship, values, and the wider culture. Families who prefer a strictly secular approach should read the school’s vision and collective worship pattern carefully.

• Curriculum consistency still developing in places. Inspection evidence noted that assessment and curriculum clarity were stronger in many subjects than in all subjects, with some areas earlier in development. Families who care deeply about foundation subjects may want to ask how subject sequencing and assessment are now embedded.

Bunny CofE Primary School is a small, values-led village school with outcomes that stand out in England, especially at the expected and higher standards in Key Stage 2, and with clear strengths in early reading and curriculum sequencing. The offer suits families who want a close-knit environment, a Christian ethos expressed through daily practice, and practical wraparound provision that supports working patterns. The central question for most families will be admission, not quality, so a realistic shortlist alongside Bunny is sensible.