SchoolScoresBluecoat Trent Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ARCHWAY LEARNING TRUST
Pelham Avenue, Nottingham, NG5 1AJ
0115 900 7245 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 January 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Nottingham comparisons use the 9 of its 19 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Nottingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 75% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 76% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 45% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 73% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 12% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 33% | 40% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 33% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 63% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Nottingham. Higher than 32% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71%said yes | 69% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Nottingham figures pool parents at the Nottingham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Nottingham. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 237 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 287 |
| Of those, offered a place | 185 (64%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 761 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.7 · 2026: 1.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Nottingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 51.1% | 43.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 8th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.8% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.7% | 34.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 32% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.4% | 8.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 21% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 29.6% | 24.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 25.5 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 10.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.45% | 0.61% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 73% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.9 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 10.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 9th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 59% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.1% | 15.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Jamia Al-Hudaa Residential College 0.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Hollygirt School 0.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Djanogly City Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Nottingham Girls' High School GDST 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 48% A*/A at A level
- Nottingham High School 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 72% A*/A at A level
- Take 1 Learning Centre 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Fuel 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Nottingham Free School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Wells Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bluecoat Aspley Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bluecoat Trent Academy's Ofsted rating?
Bluecoat Trent Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 January 2024.
Would parents recommend Bluecoat Trent Academy?
71% of the 45 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Bluecoat Trent Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bluecoat Trent Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 287 families put Bluecoat Trent Academy as their first choice for 237 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 185 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148548.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.