Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy

About Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy

Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy, a state primary in Newark and Sherwood, sits slightly above the local authority average for its key stage 2 results. In the 2023/24 academic year, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Nottinghamshire average of 61%. That three-point gap is modest but consistent across individual subjects: 79% reached the expected level in reading and in maths, and 75% in writing. The school’s ranking within the local authority reflects this solid middle-ground performance — it places 113th out of 286 primary schools in Nottinghamshire, and 15th out of 32 in the Newark and Sherwood district. While it doesn’t challenge the top-tier local performers like John Blow Primary School, it comfortably outperforms the typical LA school. The proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 4%, which is low, though 32% achieved higher scores in both reading and maths individually.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2012, awarded an overall effectiveness rating of Good, with leadership and management also judged Good. A subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed that the school remains Good, and the report was published in September 2024. This is a notable improvement from the previous graded inspection in 2010, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. However, the average scaled scores — 105 in reading and 106 in maths — are in line with national expectations. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake: 38.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, which makes the above-average attainment figures more noteworthy.

Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy is a mixed, non-religious primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. It has 219 pupils against a capacity of 259, so there is some headroom, but the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry: 25 first-preference applications were made for 25 places, with 33 total applications. The oversubscription ratio of 1.32 suggests it is a popular choice locally. Facilities include a sensory room, library, playing fields, art studios, sports hall and a chapel. The school offers a broad range of sports — football, cricket, netball, dance and swimming — plus clubs such as drama, eco club, book club, choir and film club. SEND provision is well-developed, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. This combination of solid academic outcomes, good SEND support and a wide extracurricular offer makes it a strong option for families in the Newark and Sherwood area, particularly those with children who need additional support or enjoy a varied school day.

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