Schools by area › Nottingham › The Bulwell Academy
The Bulwell Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Hucknall Lane, Nottingham NG6 8AQ · bulwellacademy.org.uk · 0115 964 7640
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 36.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Nottingham 43, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,051
- 1 over 1,050 places · 100%
- Local authority
- Nottingham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 55.6%
- First language not English
- 13.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 147 families put the school first and 181 places were offered; 99% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 181 | 147 | 0.8 | 99% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 196 | 132 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 205 | 148 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 238 | 203 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 239 | 260 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 36.1, and 29.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Nottingham it was 43, and across England 46.
In 2016/17 the average A level result was grade C (29.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼36.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼29.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼46.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼12.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.01 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 135685)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 4.7 | +3 |
| Sixth form college | 7.3 | −2.8 |
| Further education | 65.4 | +4.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.5 | −2.9 |
| Employment | 2.1 | −5.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 15.2 | +5.1 |
| Activity not captured | 4.7 | −2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
Applied general average grade
| 2018/19 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 students | Dist- (33) | Above average +0.45 |
| Earlier years: Applied general | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 8 | Merit- (22.2) | -0.16 |
| 2016/17 | 25 | — | 0.00 |
| 2015/16 | 16 | — | +0.59 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2022/23 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 25.9 | −8.5 |
| Further education | 3.7 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 14.8 | +11.7 |
| Employment | 25.9 | −11.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 25.9 | +7.1 |
| Activity not captured | 3.7 | −2.6 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Bulwell Academy on 12 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 12 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2024
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 135685), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2024Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective - Jun 2023Monitoring visitEffective action
Oct 2022Inadequate
Quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Sixth form Requires improvement Safeguarding Not effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135685)
Nov 2013Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135685)
What parents said
10% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (104 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 10%
- Replies
- 104
- 10% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on the 62% who had a child bullied
based on 35 parents (34%) with SEND