Redlands Primary and Nursery School

About Redlands Primary and Nursery School

Redlands Primary and Nursery School in Bassetlaw is running at near-full capacity with 411 pupils against a school capacity of 410, which tells you it's a popular choice locally. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 28.9%, well above the national average and a clear signal of the community it serves. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 76 applications for just 26 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.92 to one. All 25 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning if you live close enough to put it top of your list, you stand a good chance. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age three through to eleven, with its own nursery provision on site. The headship is shared between Laura Hollinger and Mrs Gemma Willford, and the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 judged the school Good across all areas, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022.

Academically, the picture is mixed. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 49% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 30th out of 44 primary schools in Bassetlaw on this measure, placing it in the bottom half nationally. Digging into individual subjects, maths performs relatively well: 71% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 105, with 29% achieving the higher standard. Reading also averaged 105, with 68% at expected level and 27% at higher. Writing is weaker, with 56% at expected and just 3% at the higher standard. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds relative to starting points. Parents responding to the Ofsted Parent View survey were split on whether the school has high expectations for their child, with 73% agreeing or strongly agreeing, but 22% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, ICT suite, art studios, music rooms, a forest school and a sensory room, plus a chapel on site. Sports on offer include rounders, athletics, netball and cricket, and there are clubs such as choir, chess, science club, eco club, art club and book club. For children with special educational needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. However, the Parent View data shows no responses at all to the question about SEND support, so it's difficult to gauge how well that provision works in practice. This is a school that suits families who value a strong local community feel and are comfortable with a non-selective intake, but who may want to keep a close eye on academic progress, particularly in writing. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Norbridge Academy, is just half a kilometre away, so it's worth comparing the two if results are your main priority.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Redlands Primary and Nursery School

Helpful Guides for Parents