Ash Lea School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Ash Lea Academy.
Ash Lea School, Cotgrave
Ash Lea School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Cotgrave. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Ash Lea School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Ash Lea School are Ash Lea Academy (under 0.1 miles); Venture Learning (4.2 miles, Good); Easthorpe School (4.3 miles, Outstanding, selective); and Rosehill School (5.3 miles, Outstanding).
Ash Lea AcademyVenture LearningEasthorpe SchoolRosehill School
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ash Lea School (as of September 2025): 72% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
39.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Asian (11%) and Mixed (10%).
Almost every pupil at Ash Lea School has an education, health and care plan (104 of 104 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Radcliffe (Notts) Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is White Furrows (opposite), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ash Lea School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 23 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Ash Lea School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ash Lea provides an exceptionally caring and supportive environment where pupils with complex needs thrive. The school expertly blends academic learning with therapeutic support, and offers rich enrichment activities that build pupils' independence, resilience and confidence. All pupils leave the school with well-matched placements for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Warm, caring environment where pupils feel safe and staff understand their unique and complex needs
- Expert behaviour management and emotional support, with staff quickly responding to pupil distress
- Ambitious, personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's education, health and care plan
- Rich experiences beyond the classroom including residential trips, cooking, woodworking and creative opportunities
- Effective preparation for pupils' futures through work experience, enterprise activities and well-matched post-school placements
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment practices in some subjects are not precise enough to quickly identify gaps in pupils' learning or misconceptions
- Need to develop and embed a consistent approach to assessment across the curriculum to better inform teaching and secure learning progress over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff demonstrating quick and sensitive responses to pupils' needs and a clear commitment to pupil welfare.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips to Derbyshire and London, visits to local cafes and shops, cooking, woodworking, singing and signing in mixed-class groups, enterprise activities including running the school tuck shop, work experience
Ash Lea School is a warm and welcoming special school for pupils aged 3-18 with complex learning difficulties. The school has maintained good standards and continues to provide high-quality education with strong pastoral support.
At a Glance
39.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, VI - Visual Impairment, OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, HI - Hearing Impairment
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Ash Lea School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ash Lea School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ash Lea School is in Nottinghamshire; for families living there:
- Nottinghamshire's school travel policy: Under 16 Transport Policy 2026-2027
- How to apply: Apply for under 16 travel assistance
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
105%
Over capacity
104 pupils
99 places
5 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cotgrave
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cotgrave
Across Nottinghamshire council
Places available
9,842
Applications
9,200
Got 1st preference
92.5%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Nottinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
104
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
104
Total Pupils
59
Boys
45
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,355
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
27.1%
Persistent absence
85
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ash Lea School
What are SATs results like at Ash Lea School?
Of the pupils at Ash Lea School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Ash Lea School's Ofsted rating?
Ash Lea School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ash Lea School?
No fixed boundary. When Ash Lea School is oversubscribed, Nottinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Ash Lea School?
Ash Lea School has around 104 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ash Lea School?
8% of sessions were missed at Ash Lea School in 2024/25. 27.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ash Lea School?
Apply through Nottinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Ash Lea School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Where is Ash Lea School?
Ash Lea School is at Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, NG12 3PA.