Bluecoat Wollaton Academy, Nottingham
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Nottingham, part of Archway Learning Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 6th-highest of the 43 schools in Nottingham with published results, and 609th of 3,298 across England. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2018)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Nottingham (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Nottingham and 47 across England.
59% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Nottingham and 47% in England.
That is up from 49.4 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.03: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 45.4, against 60.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.
Getting a place at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
For September 2026 entry, 228 families put Bluecoat Wollaton Academy as their first choice and 904 named it as one of their preferences, for 206 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 60 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Bluecoat Wollaton Academy are Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.5); Nottingham Girls' Academy (1.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 48.8); Bluecoat Beechdale Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.6); and Bluecoat Aspley Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8).
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Nottingham University Academy of Science and TechnologyNottingham Girls' AcademyBluecoat Beechdale AcademyBluecoat Aspley Academy
The trust
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is one of 13 schools run by Archway Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42 in 2024/25.
What parents say
88 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bluecoat Wollaton Academy (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (83%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 160 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 36% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
39.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (27%), White British (27%) and Asian (25%).
In 2026, 109 pupils (12.4%) received SEN support and 14 (1.6%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Queens Medical Centre Tram Stop, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Broughton Drive, 120 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bluecoat Wollaton Academy issued 45 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Bluecoat Wollaton Academy are Middleton Primary and Nursery School (0.2 miles), Southwold Primary School and Early Years' Centre (0.6 miles), Robert Shaw Primary and Nursery School (0.7 miles) and Radford Primary School Academy (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Middleton Primary and Nursery SchoolSouthwold Primary School and Early Years' CentreRobert Shaw Primary and Nursery SchoolRadford Primary School Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. It provides an excellent education for pupils. Pupils enjoy their lessons. They say that staff teach them well and make learning enjoyable. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve exceptionally well.
Parents and carers appreciate the quality of care and support the school provides. As one parent commented, typical of many, 'Bluecoat is an amazing school, with teachers that genuinely care and want the best for the students.'
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils. The school has carefully set out what knowledge, skills and vocabulary pupils will learn and when. Teachers use the school's agreed approach to delivering the curriculum exceptionally well. As a result, pupils make excellent progress through the curriculum.
Teachers have excellent subject knowledge. They explain new topics clearly. Teachers provide many opportunities for pupils to recap previous learning. They skilfully check pupils' understanding and swiftly address any misconceptions. Teachers provide clear feedback that helps pupils to improve their work. This supports pupils in building securely on previous learning. Pupils consistently produce high-quality work and achieve exceptionally well.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2018 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
About
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is an 11–16 mixed, Church of England, secondary school with academy status in Wollaton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. It is part of the Archway Learning Trust and is located in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
39.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
88 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from 0.44 to 0.03 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 52.1 to 53.4 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 54% to 59% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 53.4 | 58.8% |
| Disadvantaged(69) | - | 45.4 | 44.9% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(79) | - | 60.4 | 70.9% |
| Boys(90) | - | 52.8 | 62.2% |
| Girls(58) | - | 54.4 | 53.4% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(21) | - | 55.4 | 66.7% |
| Non mobile(147) | - | 53.2 | 58.5% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 2 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 160 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
45
Suspensions
5.45%
Suspension rate
32 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 826 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
Term dates
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy 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 Bluecoat Wollaton Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bluecoat Wollaton Academy 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
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
Will you get a place at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bluecoat Wollaton Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bluecoat Wollaton Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bluecoat Wollaton Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Nottingham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy for 2019 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
102%
Over capacity
826 pupils
810 places
16 pupils over capacity 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
3,708
Applications
3,688
Got 1st preference
80.3%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Nottingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
109
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
14.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
879
Total Pupils
448
Boys
431
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
53
Teachers
16.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,508
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,339
Per pupil
£6493k
Total funding
£326k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.3%
Overall absence
12.6%
Persistent absence
835
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
What are GCSE results like at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.4. 59% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Bluecoat Wollaton Academy's Ofsted rating?
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2018, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is oversubscribed, Nottingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Classes at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy average 24.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy has around 879 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
5.3% of sessions were missed at Bluecoat Wollaton Academy in 2024/25. 12.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Bluecoat Wollaton Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Bluecoat Wollaton Academy?
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy is at Sutton Passeys Crescent, Wollaton Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG8 1EA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)