The West Park Academy

About The West Park Academy

The West Park Academy is a state primary school in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, that has carved out a strong local reputation since its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022. It sits second out of 30 primary schools in Ashfield, according to rankings based on Key Stage 2 outcomes, placing it in the top five per cent locally. Its closest high-performing neighbours include John Blow Primary School, Harworth CofE Academy and Bunny CofE Primary School, all of which rank among the top peers in the same local authority. The school is led by headteacher Sarah Baldwin and caters for 269 pupils aged three to eleven, with nursery provision on site. It is non-denominational and oversubscribed, receiving 48 applications for 25 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with all 25 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are actively choosing.

Academically, the school performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Nottinghamshire average of 61 per cent. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was seven per cent. In reading, 27 per cent achieved the higher standard, with an average score of 107; in maths, 13 per cent reached the higher standard, with an average score of 106. Writing also saw 27 per cent at the higher level. Nationally, the school ranks in the top three per cent of all primaries on this measure, and 30th out of 1,353 in the East Midlands. Ofsted rated the school Good across all categories in its May 2022 inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2017, with leadership, behaviour, personal development and early years all judged Good.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, an ICT suite, library, music rooms, a sensory room and a forest school. Sports on offer include cricket, cross country, rounders, football and tennis, while clubs range from science club and choir to drama and book club. The school has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Mapplewells Primary and Nursery School, 2.8 kilometres away. The West Park Academy suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong academic results, a clear improvement trajectory and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, all within a school that is clearly in demand.

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