Sunnyside Spencer Academy
99%
Capacity
208
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Sunnyside Spencer Academy
Sunnyside Spencer Academy is a state primary school in Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire, that is running almost at full capacity with 208 pupils against a school capacity of 210. The school serves a community with a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, at 48.2%, which is significantly above the national average. This context makes the school's strong demand particularly striking: for the 2025/26 academic year, there were 62 applications for just 28 places, with 28 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.21. The school is clearly a popular choice among local families, and its mixed, non-religious character means it draws from a broad catchment. The headteacher is Sallyann Mitchell, and the school also offers nursery provision for children from age three.
Academically, Sunnyside Spencer Academy has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in November 2024, with Outstanding grades across all areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This marks a clear improvement from its previous Good rating in 2017. At Key Stage 2, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 61%. The school also performs strongly at the higher standard, with 7% reaching that level across all three subjects. In maths, 29% of pupils achieved the higher standard, and the average scaled score was 107, while reading averaged 106. The school ranks 3rd out of 25 primary schools in Broxtowe and sits in the top 25% nationally.
The school offers a strong range of facilities including a library, gymnasium, playing fields, sports hall, sensory room, music rooms, and a forest school. Clubs include choir, coding, science club, drama, chess, and art club, while sports on offer are football, cricket, cross country, and dance. The school has a wide range of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of respondents would recommend the school, and 81% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed primary with strong SEND support and a clear focus on both academic and personal development.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Great Hoggett Drive, Beeston, Nottingham, Broxtowe, NG9 4HQ |
| Headteacher | Sallyann Mitchell |
| Local Authority | Nottinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 208 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 48.2% |
| School Capacity | 208 / 210 (99% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (75%)
2746th of 13,686
Nationally
241st of 1,353
In East Midlands
3rd of 25
In Broxtowe
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
75%
Expected Standard
7%
Higher Standard
'22/23
82%
'23/24
75%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
21 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed28
62
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
28 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British61.1%
- Mixed21.6%
- Asian9.1%
- White (other)1.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
3.17 kmstraight line
Green ring on the map shows the effective catchment for 2025/26. Check your address below.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
9
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Cutoff distances vary year to year and apply only to applicants who reach the distance criterion. Faith, sibling, and SEND priorities take precedence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sunnyside Spencer Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Great Hoggett Drive, Beeston, Nottingham
Broxtowe, NG9 4HQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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