The Vision
Welbeck Primary School has a strong track record of educational excellence in The Meadows, Nottingham. Consistently rated “Outstanding” by OFSTED and recognised as Nottingham City’s top-performing school in 2024, it has consistently exceeded national averages in key subjects. However, the school currently only caters to primary education (ages 2-11). A significant challenge in The Meadows is the absence of a local secondary school, forcing many Year 6 pupils to travel long distances, often to oversubscribed schools, leading to uncertainty and impacting their well-being. Welbeck’s 45 Year 6 pupils typically disperse to approximately 14 different secondary schools across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, often requiring two bus journeys and a walk.
The “Welbeck Meadows” project aims to address this critical educational gap by transitioning Welbeck Primary into an “all-through” school, offering education from age 2 to 16 and eventually post-16. This expansion will create a continuous educational pathway within the community, fostering strong personal relationships and ensuring that children remain at the heart of all school activities. Each year group will be intentionally smaller, with a maximum of 75 pupils, to prioritise personalised learning. This will include places for existing primary pupils and an additional 30 places for Year 7 students from The Meadows.
The Curriculum
The vision for Welbeck Meadows is to provide a seamless, high-quality educational journey that supports every child’s emotional, academic, and social development. By offering continuous education from age 2 to 16, the school aims to improve student attainment, reduce dropout and exclusion rates, and provide a stable and supportive learning environment.
Beyond academic achievements, the school will focus on preparing pupils for future careers through established industry links, apprenticeships, and pathways to colleges and universities. Community engagement is central to the Welbeck Meadows ethos, with plans to collaborate with external agencies to offer extensive support both within and outside the school for all community members. The project is currently seeking approval and significant funding from the Department for Education and Nottingham City Council, alongside substantial corporate and local donations, to bring this £23 million vision to fruition and transform educational opportunities in the Meadows.