The Bulwell Academy, Nottingham

Requires Improvement
Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~818m)Possible (~1.2km)Unlikely (~1.5km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Matt Irons
Pupils:1,051 / 1,050 capacity
LA:Nottingham
Phone:01159647640
Address:Hucknall Lane, Nottingham, NG6 8AQ
Trust:CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST
Status:open
Opened:1 May 2018

Ofsted Rating

Requires Improvement

Overall

URN:145952
UKPRN:10067580
Constituency:Nottingham North and Kimberley
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The Bulwell Academy has created a caring, inclusive community where pupils feel valued and supported. Staff build strong relationships with students and work hard to remove barriers to learning, particularly for vulnerable pupils. The school has successfully improved attendance and behaviour through decisive leadership and clear expectations.

Key Strengths

  • Strong improvements in attendance and behaviour through targeted support and clear expectations
  • Inclusive community with effective support for vulnerable pupils and those with special educational needs
  • Caring staff who build positive relationships and know pupils well
  • Robust safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and valued
  • Good careers guidance and preparation for next steps

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils' attainment and progress are typically below national averages
  • Inconsistent quality of teaching means some pupils don't receive precise support they need
  • Some pupils struggle with writing skills across the curriculum
  • Gaps in learning for pupils with lower attendance
  • Teachers don't always check understanding thoroughly enough during lessons

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, school council, peer mentors, careers fair, university visits, work experience placements, community hub activities, trips

The Bulwell Academy has made significant improvements to its culture, attendance, and behaviour under decisive leadership. However, pupils' attainment remains below national averages, and teaching quality is inconsistent across the school.

At a Glance

55.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

25.2

Avg class size

40

Total classes

8 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Tube / Metro / Tram

Bulwell Forest Tram Stop
393m · 6 min walk

Bus Stops

Wingbourne Walk (Stop BU100)
187m · 3 min walk
Rock Street (Stop BU70)
207m · 3 min walk
Squires Avenue (Stop BU22)
216m · 4 min walk
Hoewood Road (Stop BU80)
219m · 4 min walk
Ludford Road (Stop BU23)
247m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

100%

Over capacity

1,051 pupils

1,050 capacity

1 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham

High pressure
New homes approved:17,146
Projected new pupils:3,086

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Nottingham

Admissions Demand - Nottingham

Low demand1.00x oversubscription

Places available

3,568

Applications

3,566

Got 1st preference

79.2%

Got preferred school

94.0%

Secondary admissions across Nottingham (2025/26)

Inspection History(105)

Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement
Date not published by Ofsted
Requires Improvement

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

10.99692%

Overall absence

33.24373%

Persistent absence

1,116

Enrolments

Authorised2.89895%
Unauthorised8.09797%
Persistent (10%+)33.24373%
Severe (50%+)6.2724%

Absence trend

7.38991%
18/19
9.70949%
20/21
12.41279%
21/22
14.17937%
22/23
13.866%
23/24
10.99692%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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