Serlby Park Academy Review 2026: All-Through Community Hub

Sitting at the heart of the Bircotes community, Serlby Park Academy offers something relatively rare in the state sector: a continuous education from age 3 to 16 under one roof. Replacing the old comprehensive and primary schools with a purpose-built £13.5 million campus, the academy has established itself as a central pillar of local life. As part of the Delta Academies Trust, it combines the resources of a large multi-academy trust with the intimacy of a school where staff often see children grow from nursery toddlers into GCSE students.

At drop-off, the single-site campus creates a unique dynamic. You might see Year 11 prefects holding doors for Reception children, a daily reminder of the all-through structure that defines the school's ethos. The building itself, modern and functional, was designed to facilitate this flow while keeping phases distinct enough to ensure age-appropriate environments.

Miss Kirsty Smith, the Principal, leads a team that emphasises consistency. The school operates under the Delta Academies Trust mantra of "Changing Lives," and this is visible in the structured approach to behaviour and learning. The atmosphere is purposeful; the "Serlby Standards" are not just posters on the wall but active expectations regarding uniform, punctuality, and conduct.

Being part of Delta brings a specific flavour to the school culture. There is a strong emphasis on visible consistency; lessons often follow similar structures across subjects, and resources like "Knowledge Organisers" are standard kit. For some, this feels reassuringly organised; for others, it can feel quite prescriptive. However, the result is a calm environment where expectations are clear from the moment a child enters the building.

Primary Phase (Key Stage 2)

In 2024, the primary phase delivered a mixed but generally positive picture in terms of attainment. 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, standing above the England average of 62%. This indicates that the majority of pupils leave Year 6 ready for the secondary curriculum.

At the higher standard, the school also performed well, with 12.7% of pupils achieving greater depth in reading, writing, and mathematics, compared to the England average of 8%. However, specific areas show variation; while science strength is notable with 90% meeting standards, Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (GPS) was lower, with 41% meeting the expected standard.

In the proprietary FindMySchool rankings, based on the broader aggregate of scores, the primary phase ranks 14,200th in England. This places it in the national lower band overall, despite the solid headline pass rates. Locally, it ranks 91st among primary providers in Doncaster.

Secondary Phase (GCSE)

The secondary phase performance reflects a school in line with national norms. In 2024, the academy ranked 2,129th in England and 12th in Doncaster for GCSE outcomes. This performance sits in the "national typical" band, reflecting solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The Progress 8 score of -0.22 indicates that, on average, students make slightly less progress from their starting points than their peers nationally. However, attainment in key measures is robust. The average Attainment 8 score was 42.5. Notably, 20.5% of students achieved a Grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc), compared to an England average of roughly 17%.

The curriculum is designed as a continuum. One of the key advantages of the all-through model is the ability to map learning from Year 1 right through to Year 11 without the "learning dip" that often occurs during the transition to secondary school.

In the primary phase, the approach is structured and phonics-heavy, utilising established schemes like Read Write Inc. to secure early literacy. As students move up, the Delta Trust influence becomes more apparent. The curriculum is knowledge-rich, with a heavy focus on recall and retention. Students are equipped with Knowledge Organisers, booklets containing the core facts for each topic, and are tested regularly to ensure this core knowledge is sticky.

Mathematics follows a mastery approach, ensuring concepts are deeply understood before moving on. In Science, the facilities allow even younger pupils to experience practical lessons in proper laboratories, a significant perk of the shared site. The teaching style tends to be direct and explicit; teachers lead the learning from the front, modelling answers before asking students to apply the skills independently.

Admission to Serlby Park Academy is coordinated by Nottinghamshire County Council. It is crucial for parents to understand that the school has two distinct entry points, and a place in the primary phase does not automatically guarantee a place in the secondary phase if you live outside the catchment, although attending the primary phase is a named oversubscription criterion.

Primary Entry (Reception)

The primary phase is popular. In the most recent intake, there were 73 applications for 50 places, making it oversubscribed with 1.46 applications per place. All first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while demand is high, local families who prioritise the school generally secure admission.

Secondary Entry (Year 7)

The secondary phase sees significantly higher demand, drawing from its own primary cohort and other local feeder schools. With 130 applications for 58 external places (total year size is larger, factoring in internal transfers), the subscription proportion reached 2.24 applications per place. The proportion of first preferences to offers was 1.29, indicating that entry is competitive.

Families should check the specific oversubscription criteria on the Nottinghamshire County Council website. Typically, priority is given to looked-after children, siblings, and then those living in the catchment area, followed by distance.

The school operates a vertical tutoring system in the secondary phase, or strictly year-based groups depending on the current cycle, but the core of pastoral care is the House System. Students are allocated to houses which facilitates competition and a sense of belonging within the larger school population.

For younger children, the nurture provision is strong. The transition from Primary to Secondary is handled with exceptional care; because the staff know the children already, the anxiety of "moving up" is significantly reduced. The SENCO team works across phases, ensuring that support for students with Additional Needs is consistent. There is no need for files to be transferred between schools or for parents to re-tell their child's story to a new set of teachers.

Behaviour is managed through a clear system of rewards and consequences. The "consequences board" approach is used to track behaviour in lessons, aiming to nip low-level disruption in the bud so that learning can proceed without interruption.

The extracurricular offer takes advantage of the site's extensive facilities. Sport is a major pillar, with the large sports hall, activity studio, and expansive playing fields hosting fixtures in football, netball, and rugby. The academy competes in local Doncaster and Bassetlaw leagues.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a staple of the secondary experience, with high uptake for the Bronze award in Year 10. This programme is pushed vigorously as a means of developing resilience and independence.

Beyond sport, the arts are well catered for. The academy puts on annual productions that utilise the full professional lighting and sound rigs in the main hall. These productions often involve students from both primary and secondary phases, creating a genuine whole-school community feel. Clubs such as the STEM club, choir, and drama club run after school, often supported by the Trust’s wider enrichment initiatives which can include competitions against other Delta academies.

The school day typically runs from 8:40 am to 3:00 pm, though parents should verify exact timings for the primary phase as staggered starts are sometimes used.

Wraparound care is available for primary-aged children (aged 4+). The breakfast club provides a settled start to the day from 7:30 am at a cost of £2 per session. After-school provision runs until 5:00 pm and costs £4 per session, supporting working parents. Details on booking and payment via the MCAS app are available directly from the main office.

The school is located in Bircotes, and while many students walk from the immediate estate, there are transport links for those coming from slightly further afield in the Doncaster and North Nottinghamshire border region. Parents should check the Nottinghamshire County Council transport policy to see if they qualify for bus passes.

Serlby Park Academy offers nursery provision for children aged 3 and above. The nursery is an integral part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) unit, sharing the ethos and often the resources of the Reception classes.

The setting is designed to be free-flow, allowing children to learn through play both indoors and in the dedicated outdoor Early Years area. Staff are qualified practitioners who focus on the prime areas of learning: communication, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional development.

For current nursery session timings and funding options (including 15 and 30-hour government-funded places), families should visit the academy website.

Academy Trust Model: As a Delta Academy, the school follows specific trust-wide policies on curriculum, assessment, and behaviour. This ensures high standards and consistency but can feel less autonomous than a standalone school. Parents who prefer a highly individualised or alternative approach might find the prescriptive nature of the "Delta way" distinct.

Admissions Complexity: While it is an all-through school, parents applying for Year 7 from outside the primary phase face competition. The oversubscription ratio of over 2 applicants per place means living within the catchment or meeting specific criteria is essential. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Mixed Metrics: While the headline pass rates at primary are good, the Progress 8 score in secondary is slightly negative. This suggests that while students achieve good grades, the "value added" is not as high as in some top-tier schools. However, the attainment remains solid.

Serlby Park Academy serves its community well, offering a stable, consistent, and well-resourced education from nursery through to GCSEs. The all-through model is a significant strength, providing stability for children and convenience for parents. Best suited to local families seeking a structured, no-nonsense education where children are known and supported from toddlerhood to teenage years. The main challenge is securing a place in Year 7 if you are not already in the primary phase.