The Bulwell Academy, Nottingham

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades The Bulwell Academy on 6 areas: 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken decisive action to improve attendance."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created an inclusive community."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken decisive action to improve the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a broad and well-planned personal development programme which benefits all pupils, including the most vulnerable."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' attainment and progress are typically below national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have an accurate view of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen the quality of teaching across the curriculum so that pupils typically achieve well in national examinations"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils who have gaps in their basic knowledge and skills receive effective teaching and support to close these gaps"; "Leaders should continue to embed the attendance strategy to improve overall attendance. They should also make sure that their actions result in reducing persistent absence further for all pupil groups".

In its own words: "Choosing the right secondary school is a huge decision. Our annual Open Evening provides an opportunity for prospective families to find out why The Bulwell Academy is the right choice for your child."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to The Bulwell Academy and honoured to lead the school into its next exciting chapter in Nottingham's educational landscape. Our mission is clear: to make The Bulwell Academy the school of choice-a place where every student and member of staff feels proud and privileged to belong."

In 2026, pupils at The Bulwell Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Nottingham and 47 across England.

39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Nottingham and 47% in England.

That is up from 36.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.72: pupils made well below 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 34.2, against 46.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 147 families put The Bulwell Academy as their first choice and 199 named it as one of their preferences, for 181 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Bulwell Academy are Park Vale Academy (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.2); The Oakwood Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7); Ellis Guilford School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.5); and The Holgate Academy (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.6).

The Bulwell Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

The Bulwell Academy is one of 17 schools run by Creative Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.1 in 2024/25.

Of the 191 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 65% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

55.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 212 pupils (20.2%) received SEN support and 15 (1.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The Bulwell Academy had 51 teachers in 2026, one for every 21 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Bulwell Forest Tram Stop, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wingbourne Walk, 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Bulwell Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, The Bulwell Academy issued 393 suspensions, 37.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 17 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Bulwell Academy are Bulwell St Mary's Primary and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles), Springfield Academy (0.4 miles), Cantrell Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles) and Rufford Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.