John T Rice Infant and Nursery School

About John T Rice Infant and Nursery School

John T Rice Infant and Nursery School in Mansfield was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2018, and an ungraded inspection in December 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The school’s early years provision and leadership and management were also judged Good in that 2018 inspection. As a primary school for children aged 3 to 7, it does not sit standard Key Stage 2 SATs, so the most informative academic metric is its Ofsted track record. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, with the 2023 ungraded visit finding no evidence to suggest the school had declined. This consistency is notable given that only 14 of the 286 primary schools in Nottinghamshire currently hold an Outstanding rating, meaning a Good judgement places John T Rice in solid company. The school’s capacity is 150, but it currently has 187 pupils on roll, which suggests it is operating above its official capacity and is a popular choice locally.

Academically, the school’s focus is on the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, so there are no published Progress 8 or KS2 SATs results to compare against the local authority average of 61. However, the school’s oversubscription figures tell their own story. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school offered 46 first-preference places from 84 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.83. All 46 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning the school is oversubscribed but still able to accommodate every family who put it first. This level of demand is a strong indicator of parent satisfaction, especially in a local authority where the average KS2 attainment benchmark is 61. The school’s nursery provision also feeds into the infant classes, and with 26.4 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage compared to the national average.

The school offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, library, gymnasium, sports hall, and playing fields, alongside clubs in drama, gardening, and choir. Sports provision covers tennis, gymnastics, rounders, football, cricket, swimming, and dance. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. The school’s oversubscribed status means families living closest to the school or with siblings already attending are likely to have the strongest chance of admission. John T Rice Infant and Nursery School is best suited to families in the Mansfield area who want a Good-rated infant and nursery school with strong early years provision, a broad range of activities, and a clear commitment to supporting children with a variety of special educational needs.

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