Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy

About Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy

Bluecoat Bentinck Primary Academy in Nottingham is a mixed, state primary for children aged 3 to 11 that currently has 226 pupils on roll, slightly above its official capacity of 210. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 52.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23%. Despite this, demand is strong. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 76 applications for just 29 places, with all 29 first-preference offers accepted, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.62. This suggests that local families actively choose the school, even though it is not the highest-performing option in the area. The school has a nursery provision, which may help with early-years transitions, and its religious character is listed as 'does not apply', so it is fully non-denominational.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023 rated it as 'Requires Improvement' overall, a step up from its previous 'Inadequate' rating in July 2022. Behaviour and attitudes were rated 'Good', which is a positive sign, while leadership, quality of education, early years provision, and personal development all require improvement. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 46% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Nottingham local authority average of 60%. The school ranks 62nd out of 72 primary schools in Nottingham on this measure, placing it in the bottom half nationally. Individual subject scores were mixed: 68% met the expected standard in maths (average score 103), 61% in reading (average score 101), and 50% in writing. Only 4% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, rounders, athletics and swimming, while clubs include chess, science club, coding and art club. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a potentially good fit for families whose children need additional support, particularly given the high FSM context and the school's clear focus on inclusion. However, the 'Requires Improvement' Ofsted rating means parents should weigh the school's improving trajectory and strong local demand against its current academic outcomes.

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