Outwood Academy Kirkby
About Outwood Academy Kirkby
Outwood Academy Kirkby is a secondary school in Ashfield that parents are clearly watching closely. The school received 156 applications for its 90 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.73 applicants per place. However, the parent experience on the ground is more mixed than those numbers might suggest. In the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, only 43% of the 95 respondents said they would recommend the school to another parent. When asked about specific areas, 57% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 59% felt their child does well there. But concerns are evident too: just 43% felt the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and only 33% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 48%, and its current roll of 546 is well below its capacity of 692.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 95 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 May 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 14:55
Source: kirkby.outwood.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Outwood Academy Kirkby
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications