Nelson Primary School

About Nelson Primary School

Nelson Primary School in Birmingham holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection, a standard it has maintained consistently across both its recorded inspections. The school’s most telling academic metric is its Key Stage 2 performance in reading, writing and maths combined: 70% of pupils met the expected standard in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits comfortably above the Birmingham local authority average of 63%, placing the school in the top third of primary schools nationally. Digging deeper into the individual subjects, 80% of pupils reached the expected standard in both reading and maths, with average scores of 106 and 104 respectively. The school also performs well at the higher standard, with 32% of pupils achieving that level in reading and 23% in writing. In the local authority rankings, Nelson sits 78th out of 254 primary schools, putting it in the top 31% of Birmingham primaries.

The school’s Ofsted report from October 2024 notes that it has improved significantly since its previous ungraded inspection, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good. Behaviour and attitudes were not separately graded in the most recent inspection, but the parent view data offers a mixed picture: 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that pupils are well behaved, though 20% disagreed. On safety, 94% of parents felt their child is safe at school. Academic expectations divide opinion more sharply — 60% agreed the school has high expectations for their child, while 26% disagreed. The school’s ranking score of 70 places it in the top 50 tier nationally, though it sits some way behind the top-performing local peers like Little Sutton Primary School, which scored 95.

Nelson is a three-form entry primary with nursery provision, and it is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 124 applications for 60 places, with 58 first-preference applications resulting in 53 offers. The school serves a diverse community, with 45.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Facilities include a library, art studios, ICT suite, music rooms, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, swimming, dance, tennis, cross country and football, while clubs include drama, choir and chess. The school’s SEND provisions are broad, covering moderate and severe learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. For families seeking a Good-rated Birmingham primary with above-average outcomes and strong SEND support, Nelson is a realistic and popular choice.

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