The Dukeries Academy

The Dukeries Academy is currently performing at an expected standard, demonstrating notable improvements in various areas, although challenges remain. Leaders have established a positive culture of safeguarding and made significant strides in attendance, with systems in place that are starting to yield positive results. However, examination outcomes continue to lag behind national averages, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, indicating the need for sustained focus on academic performance.

Strengths

• Leaders have created a strong culture of safeguarding.
• Improvements in attendance are evident due to decisive action.
• Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning and engagement in school.
• There is significant collaboration among inclusion leaders to support pupils' needs.
• A well-planned pupil premium strategy addresses barriers to learning.
• Educational visits and extra-curricular activities enhance pupils' experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• Examination results are well below national averages.
• Attainment fell further in 2025 despite previous improvements.
• Gaps in pupils' learning hinder their ability to work independently.
• The quality of feedback to pupils is not consistently effective.
• Attendance remains low for vulnerable pupils.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Dukeries Academy attended 89.8% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 32.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 20.7% of pupils at The Dukeries Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Dukeries Academy had 17.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.4% of pupils at The Dukeries Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Dukeries Academy received £8,387 and spent £8,327 for each of its 763 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £136,000 (£178 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Academy Transformation Trust, income was £9,055 and spending £8,540 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Newark · Nottinghamshire local authority: places and applications

The Dukeries Academy is part of Academy Transformation Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Sutton Community Academy Sutton-In-Ashfield
• The Queen Elizabeth Academy Atherstone
• Star Academy, Sandyford Stoke-On-Trent
• Sun Academy Bradwell Newcastle-Under-Lyme
• Jubilee Academy Mossley Walsall
• Phoenix Academy Walsall
• North Walsall Primary Academy Walsall
• Caldmore Primary Academy Walsall
• Pool Hayes Academy Willenhall
• Bristnall Hall Academy Oldbury

What is The Dukeries Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Dukeries Academy is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was The Dukeries Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Dukeries Academy was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does The Dukeries Academy have?

The Dukeries Academy has 709 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Dukeries Academy cover?

The Dukeries Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Dukeries Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 32.6, and 15% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Dukeries Academy?

The Dukeries Academy is at Whinney Lane, New Ollerton, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9TD.