Fairfield Spencer Academy, Nottingham

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Fairfield Spencer Academy on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well at this school."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have clear oversight of pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have thought carefully about how the curriculum can support pupils and prepare them for their next steps."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision for the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school has established effective systems so that all pupils' needs are known well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the last inspection there have been significant changes to the school's leadership."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an ambitious and well-considered personal development programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all teachers have the skills and knowledge to adapt the learning appropriately so that all pupils needs are met and any gaps in pupils' knowledge are addressed"; "Leaders should further refine their expectations so that all teachers consistently check pupils understanding and recall of the most important information, across the wider curriculum and foundation subjects".

In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Fairfield Spencer Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Nottinghamshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 77% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 49 families put Fairfield Spencer Academy as their first choice and 115 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Fairfield Spencer Academy are William Lilley Infant and Nursery School (0.2 miles, Good); St John's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles); St John's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths); and Albany Junior School (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 44% maths).

Fairfield Spencer Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

Fairfield Spencer Academy is one of 27 schools run by The Spencer Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

In 2026, 96 pupils (15.3%) received SEN support and 5 (0.8%) 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.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Tram Park & Ride, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Portland Crescent (opposite), 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fairfield Spencer Academy stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 169 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Fairfield Spencer Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Fairfield Spencer Academy are George Spencer Academy (0.4 miles), Bramcote College (1.3 miles), Alderman White School (1.3 miles) and Friesland School (1.4 miles).