Dove Holes CofE Primary School
Hallsteads, Dove Holes, Buxton, SK17 8BJ
- Phase
- Primary
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Headteacher
- Mr James Handley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Derby
- Federation
- Create Federation
- Constituency
- High Peak
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Capacity
- 84
- Pupils on roll
- 41
- URN
- 112809
- Local authority
- Derbyshire
- Website
- School website
- Telephone
- 01298812808
About this school
Dove Holes CofE Primary School is a Church of England voluntary controlled primary school in Buxton. It teaches children aged 4 to 11 and has 41 pupils on roll.
Ofsted has inspected Dove Holes CofE Primary School, and its latest judgement is set out below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Numbers and a report only go so far, so visit in person before you apply.
Ofsted judgement
Overall judgement at the last full inspection
This inspection took place under the previous framework, which gave a single overall grade. Ofsted now publishes report cards instead, so newer inspections of other schools will look different. How Ofsted report cards work
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Effective
Exam results
Key stage 2 (end of primary school)
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of key stage 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | - | 38% | - |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | - | 13% | - |
| Expected standard in reading | - | 63% | - |
| Expected standard in maths | - | 75% | - |
| Expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling | - | 75% | - |
| Average scaled score in reading | - | 104.0 | - |
| Average scaled score in maths | - | 103.0 | - |
Trends over time
How Dove Holes CofE Primary School has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.
| Year | This school | England average |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 6.4% | 6.8% |
| 2023/24 | 4.5% | 6.6% |
| 2024/25 | 6% | 6.2% |
Department for Education pupil absence data.
| Year | This school |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 47 |
| 2023/24 | 55 |
| 2024/25 | 49 |
School census, spring count each academic year.
How Dove Holes CofE Primary School compares
Its absence rate was lower than 40% of England schools in 2024/25.
| School | KS2 RWM (2024/25) | Absence | FSM (6 years) | Pupils | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This school | — | 6% | 36.7% | 41 | — |
| Peak Dale Primary School | 21% | 4.8% | 18.7% | 77 | 1.2 miles |
| Chapel-en-le-Frith CofE VC Primary School | 34% | 4.2% | 25.2% | 495 | 1.9 miles |
| Combs Infant School | — | 4.1% | 12.5% | 14 | 2.2 miles |
| Peak Forest Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | — | 3.3% | 15.6% | 42 | 2.4 miles |
| St Anne's Catholic Voluntary Academy | 53% | 6.2% | 27.2% | 252 | 2.7 miles |
Results reflect each school's cohort as much as its teaching, and free school meals share is context, not a judgement. Small gaps between neighbouring schools are rarely meaningful on their own.
School context
From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.
- Free school meals (last 6 years)
- 36.73%
- English as an additional language
- 0%
- Overall absence
- 5.96%
- Persistent absence
- 20%
Location
Nearby schools
-
Peak Dale Primary School1.2 miles
Primary · Buxton
-
Chapel-en-le-Frith CofE VC Primary School1.9 miles
Primary · High Peak
-
Combs Infant School2.2 miles
Primary · Combs High Peak
-
Peak Forest Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School2.4 miles
Primary · Buxton
-
St Anne's Catholic Voluntary Academy2.7 miles
Primary · Buxton
Other schools in Buxton
- Biggin CofE Primary School Primary
- Bishop Pursglove CofE (A) Primary School Primary
- Burbage Primary School Primary
- Buxton Infant School Primary
- Buxton Junior School Primary
- Earl Sterndale CofE Primary School Primary
- Fairfield Infant and Nursery School Primary
- Great Hucklow CE Primary Primary
- Harpur Hill Primary School Primary
- Hartington CofE Primary School Primary
- Hollinsclough Church of England Academy Primary
- Litton CofE Primary School Primary
Common questions
- What ages does Dove Holes CofE Primary School teach?
- Dove Holes CofE Primary School teaches children aged 4 to 11. It is a primary school in Buxton.
- Who is the headteacher of Dove Holes CofE Primary School?
- The headteacher of Dove Holes CofE Primary School is Mr James Handley, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
- Has Dove Holes CofE Primary School been inspected?
- Ofsted has inspected Dove Holes CofE Primary School, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
- How many pupils are at Dove Holes CofE Primary School?
- Dove Holes CofE Primary School has 41 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 4 to 11.
- Is Dove Holes CofE Primary School full?
- Dove Holes CofE Primary School has capacity for 84 pupils and 41 on roll (49%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
- Is Dove Holes CofE Primary School a faith school?
- Yes. Dove Holes CofE Primary School is designated Church of England, in the Diocese of Derby.
- Does Dove Holes CofE Primary School have a nursery?
- No. The schools register records Dove Holes CofE Primary School as having no nursery classes.
- Is Dove Holes CofE Primary School part of an academy trust?
- Dove Holes CofE Primary School is part of the Create Federation federation. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
- What is Dove Holes CofE Primary School's absence rate?
- Dove Holes CofE Primary School's overall absence rate is 6% in the latest published census, at or below the England average of 6.2%.
- What are Dove Holes CofE Primary School's exam results?
- Where the Department for Education has published them, Dove Holes CofE Primary School's key stage results are shown in the results section on this page, with the last three years so you can see the trend rather than a single year.
School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 29 June 2026.