SchoolScoresThe Sir Donald Bailey Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE FORGE TRUST
Bailey Road, Newark, NG24 4EP
01636 680142 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 September 2014. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 21 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
55 pupils in this year group.
75% — 11 points above the Nottinghamshire average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 76% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 80% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Nottinghamshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 49 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 48 |
| Of those, offered a place | 48 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 69 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 58.4% | 24.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 1.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 11.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 12.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 25th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 4.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 27th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.1% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 32nd lowest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 29th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 22nd highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 30% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.9 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 31st highest of 35 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 17% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.7 | 11.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 10th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newark. Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.7% | 13.9%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- The King's CofE Primary Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity Catholic Voluntary Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 33% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highfields School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- John Hunt Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barnby Road Academy Primary and Nursery school 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mount CofE Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 24% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chuter Ede Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newark Flying High Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- St Peter's Crosskeys CofE Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Sir Donald Bailey Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Sir Donald Bailey Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 September 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 21 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Sir Donald Bailey Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.
Is The Sir Donald Bailey Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 48 families put The Sir Donald Bailey Academy as their first choice for 49 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 48 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 141760.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.