Bracken Lane Primary Academy

Bracken Lane Primary Academy is performing strongly overall. This was a full section 5 inspection of a mainstream primary school that is part of Diverse Academies Trust. Inspectors found pupils achieve well across the curriculum, with outcomes above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics, including the Year 4 multiplication tables check. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve well from their starting points, attendance is consistently above national averages, and persistent absence is low. Pupils behave well in a calm, orderly and inclusive school. The curriculum has been refined since the previous inspection and is carefully sequenced, with reading at its heart and consistent phonics teaching. Early years provision is particularly strong, with communication and language prioritised and children well prepared for Year 1. Inclusion is effective, with timely and tailored support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils. Leadership and governance are strong, staff development is well matched to priorities, and safeguarding standards are met. No significant weaknesses were identified. The main next step is for leaders to continue refining curriculum implementation to sustain and further raise achievement, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND. Overall, the school is well placed to continue improving.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well across the curriculum and attain above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics.
• Pupils develop secure knowledge, recall prior learning impressively and produce high-quality work.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve well from their starting points.
• Attendance is consistently above national averages, with persistent absence remaining low.
• Pupils behave well and demonstrate positive attitudes in a calm, orderly and inclusive school.
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced and taught consistently well, with reading at its heart.
• Phonics teaching is consistent and expert, and books are well matched to pupils' reading knowledge.
• Early years provision is strong, prioritising communication and language and preparing children well for Year 1.
• Inclusion is strong, with timely and tailored support for pupils who face barriers to learning.
• Leadership and governance are effective, with clear vision, strong staff development and trust support.
• The personal development programme is well sequenced and offers a wide range of enriching experiences.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture in which concerns are actively identified and managed.

Areas for Improvement

• Leaders should continue refining curriculum implementation to sustain and further raise achievement for all pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.

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 Bracken Lane Primary Academy attended 95.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.3% 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, 1.3% of pupils at Bracken Lane Primary 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 Bracken Lane Primary Academy had 24.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.1% 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, 12.9% of pupils at Bracken Lane Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.4% 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 Bracken Lane Primary Academy received £6,569 and spent £6,424 for each of its 227 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £44,000 (£193 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of Diverse Academies Trust, income was £8,591 and spending £8,593 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 Retford · Nottinghamshire local authority: places and applications

Bracken Lane Primary Academy is part of Diverse Academies Trust, which runs 16 schools. The nearest others:

• Thrumpton Primary Academy Retford
• Retford Oaks Academy Retford
• Tuxford Academy Newark
• Tuxford Primary Academy Newark
• Thoresby Vale Primary Academy Mansfield
• Samuel Barlow Primary Academy Mansfield
• Yeoman Park Academy Mansfield
• Horizons Academy Mansfield
• Queen Elizabeth's Academy Mansfield
• Wainwright Primary Academy Mansfield

What is Bracken Lane Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bracken Lane Primary Academy is Strong standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Bracken Lane Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Bracken Lane Primary Academy was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Bracken Lane Primary Academy have?

Bracken Lane Primary Academy has 233 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bracken Lane Primary Academy cover?

Bracken Lane Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Bracken Lane Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bracken Lane Primary Academy?

Bracken Lane Primary Academy is at Bracken Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7EU.