Sycamore Academy, Nottingham
Sycamore Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Nottingham, part of L.e.a.d. Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 162nd-highest of the 191 schools in Nottingham with published results, and 11,625th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% 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 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Nottingham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sycamore Academy in detail
Sycamore Academy in its own words
In its own words: "We set goals and take steps to achieve them. We are focused and avoid distractions. We keep on trying."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include cricket, tennis, basketball, dance, Lego, cooking and art.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Sycamore Academy 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 fell from 75% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Sycamore Academy
For September 2026 entry, 56 families put Sycamore Academy as their first choice and 77 named it as one of their preferences, for 56 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sycamore Academy are Huntingdon Academy (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 97% reading, 95% maths); St Ann's Well Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 68% maths); St Augustine's Catholic Primary and Nursery School, A Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 55% maths); and Blue Bell Hill Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 82% maths).
Sycamore Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Huntingdon AcademySt Ann's Well AcademySt Augustine's Catholic Primary and Nursery School, A Voluntary AcademyBlue Bell Hill Primary and Nursery School
The trust
Sycamore Academy is one of 27 schools run by L.e.a.d. Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
46.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 63.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are other ethnic groups (36%), Black (25%) and White British (19%).
In 2026, 91 pupils (19.5%) received SEN support and 11 (2.4%) 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 NTU Tram Stop, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Robin Hood Chase, 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sycamore Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 1367 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 Nottingham (391), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sycamore Academy issued 30 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sycamore Academy are Bluecoat Trent Academy (0.7 miles) and The Wells Academy (1.1 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils enjoy coming to this welcoming and inclusive school. They appreciate their caring teachers, who are always ready to help them. They feel listened to and safe because staff are quick to help them to resolve any problems.
Pupils are enthusiastic learners and aim to do their best. They explain that 'you need to be responsible to be in our school family'. If they find this difficult, they get extra help. Pupils say that bullying is rare. They relish receiving golden tickets for showing 'SHINE' attitudes, such as 'everyone works together'. Pupils are proud to be part of the citizen group, and to take on responsibilities such as school councillors and lunchtime servers.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is ambitious for every child to receive the best possible education. There have been many staff changes during the past year. The school has worked alongside the trust to ensure that it continues to improve. This has included timely support to boost the capacity of the dedicated staff team.
The school has made many recent changes to its systems and procedures. This has included refining some curriculum plans. Staff have the expertise to deliver and make checks on the curriculum. In most subjects, the curriculum is well taught. Staff revisit important learning with pupils so that they can recall what they have learned and build on it successfully. However, in a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not consistently well delivered and pupils do not learn as much of the subject curriculum as leaders intend.
From Ofsted's June 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 November 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
46.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 75% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.6
Avg class size
26.8
Infant (KS1)
27.6
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Sycamore Academy
Beloved Sycamore Academy teaching assistant retires after 30 years of service
24 Jul 2026
New Headteacher brings experience and commitment to St Ann’s community
21 Oct 2025
Ofsted praises Sycamore Academy for being “aspirational for all its pupils.”
6 Sep 2024
Sycamore Academy awarded British Council’s prestigious International School Award
1 Jul 2024
Hola! Year 5 practise Spanish during trip to Majorca
20 Jun 2024
Lacrosse after school club
12 Jun 2024
From Sycamore Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Sycamore Academy
Before and after school care
Sycamore Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Nottingham
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Sycamore Academy.
- Ace Sports Midlands: Sycamore Academy - Wraparound and Holiday ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
- The Lime Trees at Sycamore AcademyAt the school · Not yet graded
- Rattle and Roll Performance: Huntington Academy Wrap Around and Holiday Club290m away · Not yet graded
- TB Sport at St Augustines620m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Sycamore 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 Sycamore Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sycamore 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
- 39
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 32 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Sycamore Academy
Will you get a place at Sycamore Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sycamore Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sycamore Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sycamore Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Nottingham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sycamore Academy for 2014 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
96%
Near capacity
404 pupils
420 places
16 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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
91
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
21.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
466
Total Pupils
239
Boys
227
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
23.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,011
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,873
Per pupil
£3005k
Total funding
£268k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
14.1%
Persistent absence
370
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
Sycamore Academy
Questions parents ask about Sycamore Academy
What are SATs results like at Sycamore Academy?
Of the pupils at Sycamore Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% reached the expected standard in reading and 68% did so in maths.
What is Sycamore Academy's Ofsted rating?
Sycamore Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sycamore Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Sycamore 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 Sycamore Academy?
Sycamore Academy was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Sycamore Academy?
Classes at Sycamore Academy average 27.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sycamore Academy?
Sycamore Academy has around 466 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sycamore Academy?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Sycamore Academy in 2024/25. 14.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sycamore Academy?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Sycamore Academy 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 Sycamore Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Sycamore Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Ace Sports Midlands: Sycamore Academy - Wraparound and Holiday Club (registered, not yet graded) and The Lime Trees at Sycamore Academy (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre.
How many road collisions happen near Sycamore Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 32 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Sycamore Academy?
Sycamore Academy is at Abbotsford Drive, St Ann's, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 4QP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)