Chetwynd Spencer Academy Review 2026: High-performing primary with a clear kindness culture

Kindness is not a poster value here, it is a behavioural operating system. Chetwynd Spencer Academy’s single rule is simple, and it shows up in the calm, purposeful tone described in the most recent official inspection evidence.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 outcomes in 2024 were well above England averages, and its FindMySchool ranking places it comfortably within the top 25% of primaries in England. With a Published Admission Number of 60 in Reception and demand running at 2.4 applications per place, entry can be competitive.

The practical set-up is also unusually detailed: published timings for the school day and wraparound care, clear drop-off guidance (including a rear access route via the Tesco car park), and structured before and after-school provision up to 6pm.

A “one rule” culture works only if it is consistently reinforced. Here, the language is explicit: pupils are taught STARFISH values (sportsmanship, tolerance, appreciation, resilience, friendship, integrity, sensitivity and helpfulness) and are expected to carry those behaviours into the wider community as well as the classroom. The most recent inspection evidence describes classrooms as calm and purposeful, with staff setting very high expectations for behaviour and learning.

That values framework is not positioned as separate from learning. It sits alongside a deliberate focus on vocabulary and oral communication, starting from early years. The school’s approach is presented as systematic rather than personality driven, which matters for families thinking about consistency across year groups or through staff changes.

It is also a school that puts effort into widening experiences in structured ways. Examples in official evidence include pupil groups taking responsibility for inclusion activity (including a culture day), and community links that are made concrete through routine actions, such as pupils creating Christmas cards for a local care home.

This is a primary where the published attainment picture is strong across the standard KS2 measures.

In 2024, 84.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 29% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 8%. Those are meaningful gaps, and they indicate both breadth (expected standard) and depth (higher standard), not just a small high-attaining tail.

Scaled scores add detail. Reading averaged 107, mathematics 106, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109, with 89% meeting the expected standard in GPS, 84% in mathematics, and 85% in reading.

In FindMySchool’s primary ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 2,764th in England and 33rd within Nottingham. That sits above England average overall, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for primary outcomes.

The school’s published materials and inspection evidence point to a deliberate, structured model of teaching, rather than a loose “topic” approach that depends heavily on individual classes.

A recurring theme is a knowledge-based curriculum, with an emphasis on helping pupils retain and revisit learning, and on ensuring that past events and current events are connected to build understanding over time. This is framed as purposeful sequencing, not simply coverage.

Reading is treated as a core priority with a consistent approach, including phonics and whole class reading, and pupils are described as confident, fluent readers who can talk enthusiastically about their reading lessons. Vocabulary is treated as an explicit teaching focus, with pupils encouraged to use precise language to explain their thinking.

For parents, the implication is that learning here should feel coherent across year groups. If your child thrives with clear routines, explicit teaching, and adults who correct misconceptions quickly, the approach is likely to suit. If your child needs a looser, more child-led classroom style all day, every day, it is worth checking how the school balances structure with exploration, especially in upper Key Stage 2.

As a state primary, the main “destination” question is transition to secondary, including how familiar pupils will feel with the Year 7 environment and whether there is an established pathway for many families.

Nottinghamshire’s published secondary information identifies George Spencer Academy as linking with Chetwynd Spencer Academy as part of the George Spencer family of schools, which is relevant for families weighing continuity and peer group transition.

Practically, families should also note the Year 7 application timeline. For the September 2026 secondary intake, Nottinghamshire’s key dates show the application window runs from 4 August 2025 to 31 October 2025, with offers released on 2 March 2026. Even if you are still early in primary, it is useful context for how quickly the process moves once your child reaches Year 6.

Beyond destinations, the school’s own materials also describe active relationship building with other settings and with George Spencer Academy to support transition by understanding pupils’ knowledge and skill levels. That suggests transition work is planned, rather than left to the final term of Year 6.

Reception is the main entry point, with a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 60. The admissions authority is Spencer Academies Trust, but applications are made through your child’s home local authority under the coordinated admissions scheme.

Competition for places is real. The most recent demand data provided here shows 144 applications for 60 offers, or roughly 2.4 applications per place, with the school recorded as oversubscribed. This is the part families should treat as the gating factor, because school quality is only useful if a place is achievable.

If the school is oversubscribed, the published priority order starts after any pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school. The next priorities are looked after and previously looked after children, then children in catchment with a sibling, then other children in catchment, then children outside catchment with a sibling, then all other children. When a tie break is needed within a category, distance is measured in a straight line from the main administrative entrance to the home address point, using the local authority’s distance software.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Nottinghamshire, the local authority’s published primary timeline sets 3 November 2025 as the opening date and 15 January 2026 as the national closing date, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

Open events are often where parents test “fit”, especially around behaviour, inclusion, and how the curriculum is communicated. The school’s published autumn schedule included open sessions for prospective Reception families in November and early January. Those specific dates are now in the past, but the pattern indicates this is typically the window to watch for.

Tip for families: if you are using distance or catchment strategy, use the FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact distance and compare it with realistic admission patterns, then keep a shortlist in Saved Schools so you can pivot quickly if one option becomes unlikely.

Pastoral work here is closely linked to behaviour expectations. Staff are described as having high expectations, and pupils as living up to them, resulting in calm, purposeful classrooms. Pupils are reported to feel safe and confident about speaking to an adult if they have a problem, with practical tools used to help younger pupils communicate worries.

Personal development is not treated as a bolt-on. Pupils learn about healthy relationships and demonstrate an understanding of friendship, and there are opportunities to contribute to community activities. That matters for parents who want a primary that actively teaches social learning rather than simply responding to incidents.

Inclusion is also framed as proactive. Official evidence highlights a clear understanding of the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with staff helping pupils access the full curriculum and identifying needs quickly so that support can be put in place.

Extracurricular at Chetwynd Spencer reads as structured and varied, with specific examples rather than vague claims.

Clubs mentioned in official inspection evidence include Rattle and Roll and Magical Maths, both positioned as current favourites. The point here is not the branding, it is that the offer includes playful, skills-based enrichment rather than only traditional sports or performance slots.

Outdoor learning is unusually concrete. Nottinghamshire’s family service directory describes Forest School sessions led by named staff (Mrs West and Mrs Tooby), with activities including den and shelter building, knot tying, tool work, food preparation, and carefully supervised fire lighting. For children who learn best through doing, this is a meaningful counterweight to more desk-based work.

Sport and physical activity have also had a visible facilities boost. Spencer Academies Trust reported the opening of a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), intended to support PE, clubs, and break-time activity, with examples including Zorb football and sports leaders setting up activities for other pupils. That kind of facility tends to widen participation, not just support the already sporty children.

The school calendar also points to enrichment beyond clubs. The published autumn schedule included a School Council visit to Parliament and a school-wide pantomime funded through a school fund, alongside curriculum open mornings (including a maths curriculum open morning for parents).

The school day is published as 8.40am to 3.20pm, with gates opening at 8.35am and locking at 8.50am. There are two main access points, including a rear gate accessed from the Tesco car park, which the school positions as a way to reduce congestion at drop-off.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast Club runs from 7.30am to 8.40am and is priced at £6 per session. After School Education Club runs from 3.20pm to 6.00pm and is priced at £12 per session, with structured homework and reading time built into parts of the afternoon. Clubs are generally described as running from 3.20pm to 4.20pm.

On costs, remember this is a state school with no tuition fees, but there are still common extras. One example published in the school’s welcome booklet is that meals for pupils in Years 3 to 6 are £2.20 per day.

• Competitive entry for Reception. With 144 applications for 60 offers in the latest demand snapshot, admission is the main constraint for many families, not the educational experience.

• Catchment and distance still matter. The published oversubscription rules prioritise catchment (and siblings), with a straight-line distance tie break from the main administrative entrance when needed. Living in catchment is helpful but not a guarantee.

• Structured expectations. The calm, high-expectation classroom culture will suit many children, but families of pupils who struggle with tightly held routines may want to understand what support looks like day to day.

• Drop-off logistics. The school actively manages traffic and promotes specific routes and gate timings, including a rear access via Tesco. If you rely on driving, it is worth stress-testing how that will work for your household.

Chetwynd Spencer Academy combines a clear values framework with strong KS2 outcomes and a teaching model that prioritises reading, vocabulary and curriculum coherence. The experience is shaped by consistency: expectations are explicit, enrichment is planned, and practical information for families is unusually detailed.

Best suited to families who want a high-performing state primary with strong routines, a genuine kindness culture, and structured wraparound care, and who can realistically compete for a Reception place under the catchment and oversubscription criteria.