Nelson Academy

Nelson Academy continues to perform well, maintaining its status as a good school since its last inspection in 2016. The school fosters a welcoming environment where pupils thrive academically and socially, benefiting from strong relationships with staff who hold high expectations for their behavior and work ethic. The curriculum is ambitious, and teachers possess strong subject knowledge, enabling pupils to develop deep understanding and skills across a wide range of subjects. The school's efforts in promoting personal development, including initiatives like first aid training, further enhance the overall educational experience.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy learning and demonstrate positive attitudes towards their education.
• The school is calm and orderly, with rarely any disruptions during lessons.
• Teachers provide clear explanations and precise feedback to support pupils' learning.
• Effective support is offered to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders prioritize staff well-being, contributing to a positive working environment.

Areas for Improvement

• A small number of weaker readers do not receive precisely matched support, hindering their progress.

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 Nelson Academy attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.2% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Nelson 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 Nelson Academy had 21.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 32.3% 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, 23.8% of pupils at Nelson Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 6 pupils.

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 Nelson Academy received £7,077 and spent £7,108 for each of its 392 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £244,000 (£622 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of Eastern Multi-Academy Trust, income was £7,459 and spending £7,372 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 Downham Market · Norfolk local authority: places and applications

Nelson Academy is part of Eastern Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• Southery Academy Downham Market
• Upwell Academy Wisbech
• Emneth Academy Wisbech
• Parkway Academy King'S Lynn
• King's Lynn Academy King'S Lynn
• Eastgate Academy King'S Lynn
• North Wootton Academy King'S Lynn
• Glade Academy Brandon
• Norwich Road Academy Thetford
• Admirals Academy Thetford

What is Nelson Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Nelson Academy is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.

When was Nelson Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Nelson Academy was last inspected in December 2022.

How many pupils does Nelson Academy have?

Nelson Academy has 386 pupils on roll.

What age range does Nelson Academy cover?

Nelson Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Nelson Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Nelson Academy?

Nelson Academy is at Nursery Road, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9PF.