Norland CE School
Sowerby Bridge, HX6 3RN · Calderdale · primary school
Check the area around this school
30th of 76 primary schools in Calderdale we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.6/10 against 3,537 of them, against 7.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 80.0 · 88 | 40% | 3.51 |
| Ofsted | 12 | 35% | 0.40 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 10.0 · 66 | 25% | 1.65 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Norland CE School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 80.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 10.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.9 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in June 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Phunky Food Ambassadors club, swimming, and Forest School trips.
Getting in
The published school roll is 61 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the new report-card framework affect daily teaching priorities? What specific support is available for pupils who do not reach the expected standard?
What Ofsted said about Norland CE School
Overview
Norland CE School is a small Church of England primary where pupils feel "happy and valued" in a "calm, orderly and respectful environment." The report highlights that leaders place a "high priority on attendance," resulting in rates above the national average, while pupils "make secure progress from their starting points across the curriculum."
Strengths
- Attendance is "above the national average," with leaders acting early to remove barriers and build strong relationships with families.
- Pupils "behave very well," showing self-discipline and respect; bullying is "rare and dealt with quickly and effectively."
- Reading is prioritised through daily phonics, ensuring pupils develop "independent strategies" and read "fluently and with understanding" by the end of their time at school.
- The curriculum is "well planned" and "sequenced carefully," with staff providing "short, focused support" to help pupils close learning gaps quickly.
- Inclusion is effective, with staff using "well-considered adaptations" to ensure pupils with special educational needs access the same ambitious content as their peers.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should continue work to ensure "highly effective teaching is embedded across subjects and year groups."
- Leaders should further develop staff expertise so that interactions with children in the early years are "consistently effective."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are "made safer and feel safe."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 64% |
| 2023/24 | 63% |
| 2024/25 | 80% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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