The Sir Donald Bailey Academy
About The Sir Donald Bailey Academy
The Sir Donald Bailey Academy is a state primary school in Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, that sits comfortably within the top 25 per cent of schools nationally for its key stage 2 outcomes. In the local authority, it ranks 5th out of 32 primary schools, placing it among the strongest performers in the area. Its closest competitors at the top of the local table are John Blow Primary School, Harworth CofE Academy and Bunny CofE Primary School. The school is led by headteacher Joanne Knapp and caters for children aged 2 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is a mixed, non-religious school with a capacity of 585 pupils and currently has 523 on roll. The school is notably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 88 applications for 60 places, with 55 first-preference offers made. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, and the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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
21 Jun 2023Latest monitoring visit (21 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 22 Oct 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
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
08:40 – 15:20
Breakfast club
08:00-08:40
After-school care
15:20-18:00
Source: sirdonaldbailey.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About The Sir Donald Bailey 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