Ambleside Primary School, Nottingham
Ambleside Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Nottingham, part of Raleigh Education Trust. It was rated Inadequate at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 153rd-highest of the 191 schools in Nottingham with published results, and 11,173rd of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Inadequate (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Nottingham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ambleside Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Ambleside Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 73% in Nottingham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (66% in reading, 68% in maths).
Getting a place at Ambleside Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 65 families put Ambleside Primary School as their first choice and 93 named it as one of their preferences, for 67 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Ambleside Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ambleside Primary School are St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 98% reading, 98% maths); Rosslyn Park Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Good, 64% reading, 60% maths); Bluecoat Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 64% maths); and Brocklewood Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 63% maths).
Ambleside Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolRosslyn Park Primary and Nursery SchoolBluecoat Primary AcademyBrocklewood Primary and Nursery School
The trust
Ambleside Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Raleigh Education Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ambleside Primary School (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (86%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (67%).
Who goes there
45% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (45%), Asian (17%) and Mixed (15%).
In 2026, 110 pupils (17.5%) received SEN support and 9 (1.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Cinderhill Tram Stop, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hilcot Drive, 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ambleside Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ambleside Primary School issued 38 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ambleside Primary School are The Trinity Catholic School A Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles), Nottingham Girls' Academy (0.6 miles), Ellis Guilford School (0.6 miles) and Bluecoat Aspley Academy (0.7 miles).
The Trinity Catholic School A Voluntary AcademyNottingham Girls' AcademyEllis Guilford SchoolBluecoat Aspley Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school truly stands out for its ambitious vision and strong relationships with families. The exceptional personal development programme helps children understand the world around them and develop resilience, while the outstanding early years provision gets children off to a brilliant start. Staff go above and beyond to support every child, removing barriers to learning and celebrating each pupil's unique strengths.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development provision with careers weeks and community activities that raise pupil aspirations
- Outstanding early years provision with high expectations and skilled staff using quality conversations
- Consistent and well-structured teaching of reading with careful matching of books to pupil needs
- Strong support for pupils with SEND through tailored provision including the Dolphin Pods
- Calm, focused classrooms where pupils concentrate intently and receive timely catch-up support
Areas for Improvement
- Few subjects provide sufficient opportunities for pupils to deepen their understanding of the curriculum
- Low number of pupils reach higher standards in reading and mathematics by the end of key stage 2
- Need to develop more opportunities for pupils to develop knowledge in greater depth
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and prioritise pupils' interests through an open and positive culture.
Extracurricular Activities
Careers weeks, litter picking, bulb planting, Ambleside Friending Club visits to local care home, before- and after-school club, breakfast club
Ambleside Primary School is a highly ambitious school with a clear vision for pupil success, built on strong relationships and removing barriers to learning. The school has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, with pupils doing well across the board.
At a Glance
45.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
21 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 72% to 76% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.2
Avg class size
26.1
Infant (KS1)
27.6
KS2
23
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ambleside Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Ambleside Primary School.
- YMCA Childcare - St Teresas750m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Ambleside Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Nottingham's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ambleside Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ambleside Primary School is in Nottingham; for families living there:
Apply to Nottingham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 31
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 21 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ambleside Primary School
Will you get a place at Ambleside Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ambleside Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ambleside Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ambleside Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Nottingham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ambleside Primary School for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Nottingham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
591 pupils
630 places
39 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nottingham
Across Nottingham council
Places available
3,880
Applications
2,934
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Nottingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
110
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
18.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
629
Total Pupils
301
Boys
328
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,863
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,885
Per pupil
£4062k
Total funding
£412k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.1%
Overall absence
20.5%
Persistent absence
528
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Ambleside Primary School
What are SATs results like at Ambleside Primary School?
Of the pupils at Ambleside Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 68% did so in maths.
What is Ambleside Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ambleside Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Inadequate.
What is the catchment area for Ambleside Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Ambleside Primary School is oversubscribed, Nottingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ambleside Primary School?
Ambleside Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 630 places.
How big are the classes at Ambleside Primary School?
Classes at Ambleside Primary School average 27.2 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Ambleside Primary School?
Ambleside Primary School has around 629 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ambleside Primary School?
7.1% of sessions were missed at Ambleside Primary School in 2024/25. 20.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ambleside Primary School?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Ambleside Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Ambleside Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Ambleside Primary School: YMCA Childcare - St Teresas (750m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Ambleside Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 21 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ambleside Primary School?
Ambleside Primary School is at Minver Crescent, Aspley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG8 5PN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)