Ofsted: Inadequate trending_up Places Available emoji_events #26 in Derby public Top 58% UK

Brackensdale Spencer Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Joanna McGregor

corporate_fareTHE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onDerby, DE22 4BS

language Visit Website phone 1332341171

verified

Ofsted

Inadequate

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

463

school

Expected Standard

61%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Brackensdale Spencer Academy is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Derby, serving ages 3-11. Currently rated Inadequate by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 58% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Brackensdale Spencer Academy is an academy sponsor led in Derby, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of THE SPENCER ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 505 pupils on roll, of whom 38% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #26 of 59 primaries in Derby and #6,348 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Inadequate. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

61%

LA 56%

Reading68% LA 70%

Writing66% LA 66%

Maths61% LA 67%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading67% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing71% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths63% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading55% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing67% LA 66% · Eng 71%

Maths56% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.7

Read

LA -1.1

-3.2 to -0.1

3.4

Write

LA -0.4

1.9 to 4.9

-1.0

Maths

LA -0.8

-2.5 to 0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-15

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-11-27

S5 Inspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Inadequate

2015-03-24

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 505 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	505	2	0.4%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	484	3	0.6%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	506	2	0.4%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	479	2	0.4%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	468	2	0.4%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	472	1	0.2%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	463	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	457	2	0.4%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	462	2	0.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	455	2	0.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	449	1	0.2%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 85 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 45 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 30 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

82.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

75.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

29.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree34%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree16%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree50%

agree47%

strongly disagree3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree34%

agree19%

disagree9%

strongly disagree13%

don't know3%

not applicable22%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes56%

no44%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree61%

agree22%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree31%

agree38%

disagree19%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree41%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree47%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree41%

disagree9%

don't know6%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree41%

disagree13%

don't know9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree38%

agree28%

disagree16%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

Top Primary Schools in Derby

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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Redwood Primary School

Good

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Outstanding

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Derby

Griffe Field Primary School

Gayton Junior School

Lawn Primary School

Redwood Primary School

St George's Catholic Voluntary Academy

Homefields Primary School