Bluecoat Aspley Academy
97%
Capacity
1,351
Pupils
4.8x
Demand
About Bluecoat Aspley Academy
Bluecoat Aspley Academy is a large Church of England secondary school in Nottingham that is clearly in high demand. With 1,351 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,400, it is operating very close to full. The school received 861 applications for 181 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, an oversubscription ratio of 4.76 to one, and 236 of those applications were first preferences, of which 152 were offered places. This level of competition suggests strong local reputation. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 41.7%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school’s role in serving a diverse and economically varied community. The school is mixed, spans ages 11 to 19, and includes a sixth form.
Academically, Bluecoat Aspley performs solidly within its local authority context. Its Progress 8 score of 0.02 is rated as Average and sits well above the Nottingham local authority average of -0.25, placing the school 5th out of 14 schools in the LA on this measure. Attainment 8 sits at 48.2, and 71.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 28.4%, with 19.1% achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value added score of -0.25 is rated Below average, with an average point score per entry of 27.51 (equivalent to a C- grade). In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, the school was judged to remain Good overall, with leadership and management rated Outstanding and sixth form provision rated Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a sixth form centre. There is an extensive list of clubs and activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, debating, and coding. Sports on offer include football, hockey, gymnastics, and martial arts. The school has a strong SEND provision, with support for specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and a resourced provision. Given its oversubscription, families applying should be prepared for competition, particularly for first preference places. This school will suit families looking for a large, inclusive secondary with strong leadership, a Christian ethos, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, especially those who value a school that performs above the local average on pupil progress.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Aspley Lane, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG8 5GY |
| Headteacher | Sarah Anderson |
| Local Authority | Nottingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,351 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 41.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,351 / 1,400 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Jun 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jun 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.02)
1467th of 3,141
Nationally
118th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 14
In Nottingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.3
'22/23
30.9
'23/24
27.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 184 pupils).
- University (HE)72%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed181
861
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
236 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian37.3%
- White British13.7%
- Mixed9.0%
- White (other)5.8%
- Black3.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
17
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
12
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bluecoat Aspley Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Aspley Lane, Nottingham
Nottingham, NG8 5GY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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