Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School, Nottingham
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Nottingham, part of Transform Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 166th-highest of the 191 schools in Nottingham with published results, and 11,772nd of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School in detail
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to the Governors section of Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School. Since the school joined Transform Trust on August 1 st 2016 we have gone through a transformation in how we govern at BSM."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 59% 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 (73% in reading, 57% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School as their first choice and 53 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School are Rufford Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 64% maths); Cantrell Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles); Springfield Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 62% reading, 69% maths); and Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Good, 45% reading, 50% maths).
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Rufford Primary and Nursery SchoolCantrell Primary and Nursery SchoolSpringfield AcademySnape Wood Primary and Nursery School
The trust
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School is one of 27 schools run by Transform Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 74% say their child is happy there and 22% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (22%).
Who goes there
39.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 28.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (48%), Black (18%) and Mixed (16%).
In 2026, 29 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 4 (1.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Bulwell Forest Tram Stop, about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rock Street, 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery 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, Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School issued 9 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School are The Bulwell Academy (under 0.1 miles) and Park Vale Academy (0.9 miles).
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 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2014, 12 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?
Pupils enjoy coming to this friendly and helpful school. They understand their 'take care' values, which are based on the Christian ethos of the school. Pupils try hard to uphold these each day. Pupils who are 'take care leaders' take pride in rewarding others when they see pupils take care of themselves, each other, their work or school and community.
Staff typically have high expectations of behaviour and for pupils' learning. Many pupils live up to these expectations. Classrooms are calm and purposeful. Pupils say that teachers are kind and help them to learn new things. On occasion, when pupils struggle with school life, they are well supported. Pupils enjoy spending time with their friends in the playground. This is a fun place for pupils to spend time together. However, on occasion, some pupils need to be reminded to play sensibly.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The trust and the school have worked hard to ensure that pupils receive a good quality of education. The school has developed the curriculum to make sure that it is well thought out and carefully designed in many subjects. This is helping pupils with their learning. This is particularly the case for reading and mathematics as well as in other subjects in the wider curriculum. Changes to the curriculum are still taking place in some subjects. For example, writing is still in the early stages of development.
The school has a keen focus on developing pupils' vocabulary. The school encourages pupils to use precise vocabulary to express themselves and to explain their thinking. This approach begins in early years. For example, pupils can confidently describe what an amphibian is and where it may live. Children in the Reception class can confidently show various ways to make the number three.
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 Good at its January 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
39.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
23 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 72% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 59% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 60% to 72% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.6
Avg class size
27.7
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School.
- The Lime Trees at Standstead Nursery and Primary School970m away · Not yet graded
- Rattle and Roll Performance Holiday Club: Stanstead Primary970m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery 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
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery 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
- 76
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 17
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 76 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 62 slight.
17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 14 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
20 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
Will you get a place at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Nottingham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School for 2017 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
203 pupils
210 places
7 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
29
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
14.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
221
Total Pupils
97
Boys
124
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,186
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,433
Per pupil
£1559k
Total funding
£159k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
17.6%
Persistent absence
193
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
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
Questions parents ask about Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School
What are SATs results like at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Of the pupils at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 72% reached the expected standard in reading and 59% did so in maths.
What is Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Classes at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School average 27.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School has around 221 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School in 2024/25. 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School: The Lime Trees at Standstead Nursery and Primary School (970m away, registered, not yet graded) and Rattle and Roll Performance Holiday Club: Stanstead Primary (970m 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 76 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 62 slight. 17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 14 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 20 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 Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School?
Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School is at Ragdale Road, Bulwell, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG6 8GQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)