Lace Hill Academy

Lace Hill Academy is performing well overall, rated as 'Good' across multiple areas, with outstanding personal development. The school fosters a welcoming environment, promoting high expectations and a positive atmosphere among pupils who are eager to learn. Notably, the academy has established effective support systems for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring they receive appropriate assistance to thrive academically and socially. Despite these strengths, there are areas for improvement in the curriculum's precision in some subjects, which may hinder consistent knowledge building for all pupils. This is the first inspection the school has undergone since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the context of the additional support provided during this time has been acknowledged.

Strengths

• Strong community atmosphere with kind and welcoming staff
• High expectations and ambition from leaders inspire pupils
• Well-structured curriculum that builds knowledge progressively
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs
• Strong emphasis on personal development and community involvement
• Consistent phonics teaching leading to strong reading skills

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum lacks precision in identifying specific learning goals in some subjects

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 Lace Hill Academy attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 1.7% of pupils at Lace Hill Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 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 Lace Hill Academy had 19.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 19.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 11.0% of pupils at Lace Hill Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Lace Hill Academy received £6,636 and spent £6,588 for each of its 226 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £151,000 (-£668 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of Campfire Education Trust, income was £7,332 and spending £7,200 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 Buckingham · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

Lace Hill Academy is part of Campfire Education Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Bourton Meadow Academy Buckingham
• George Grenville Academy Buckingham
• Moorland Primary School Milton Keynes
• Spring Lane Primary School Northampton
• Lumbertubs Primary School Northampton

What is Lace Hill Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lace Hill Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Lace Hill Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Lace Hill Academy was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Lace Hill Academy have?

Lace Hill Academy has 218 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lace Hill Academy cover?

Lace Hill Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Lace Hill Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Lace Hill Academy?

Lace Hill Academy is at Catchpin Street, Lace Hill, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 7RR.