Carlton Digby School, Nottingham
Carlton Digby School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Nottingham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2020)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Carlton Digby School in detail
Carlton Digby School in its own words
In its own words: "Carlton Digby School is a special school for children and young people aged 3-18 with a broad range of difficulties. We are committed to delivering the best possible education to ensure that our young people are prepared for their future and they reach their full potential."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Carlton Digby School are Venture Learning (1.8 miles, Good); Rosehill School (1.9 miles, Outstanding); Endeavour Academy (2.2 miles); and Sutherland House School (2.4 miles, Good).
Venture LearningRosehill SchoolEndeavour AcademySutherland House School
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Carlton Digby School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (79%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 11% to a further education college.
Who goes there
43.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Mixed (13%) and Asian (5%).
Almost every pupil at Carlton Digby School has an education, health and care plan (97 of 97 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Carlton Digby School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Carlton Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fernleigh Avenue (opposite), 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Carlton Digby School issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from March 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Carlton Digby School excels at treating every pupil with kindness and dignity while building their confidence and independence. Staff have deep knowledge of each child's individual needs and use this to adapt teaching brilliantly, helping pupils make exceptional progress in communication and learning. The school also prepares young people exceptionally well for their future, with sixth-formers leaving equipped with real work experience and clear pathways into employment or further education.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional support for communication development through varied methods including symbols, songs, sensory stories and body language - pupils make exceptional gains
- Broad, ambitious curriculum carefully matched to individual pupil needs with regular revisiting of learning to aid memory and achievement
- Outstanding preparation for adult life with meaningful work experience placements, leading to exceptionally low numbers not in employment, education or training
- Strong emphasis on personal development including citizenship, healthy relationships, British values and respect for different cultures
- Excellent fine motor and writing support with regular opportunities for mark making, letter formation and sentence writing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture where pupils' interests are prioritized.
Extracurricular Activities
Walking football, school council, whole-school productions, trips and visits including residential trips, volunteering opportunities in the local community
Carlton Digby School is a special school that has successfully maintained its outstanding standards since the previous inspection in 2020. Pupils benefit from a kind, respectful environment where they feel happy, safe, and supported to develop independence and communication skills.
At a Glance
43.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 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 Carlton Digby School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Carlton Digby School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Carlton Digby 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
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
97 pupils
95 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nottingham
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.
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
97
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Carlton Digby School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
97
Total Pupils
66
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
5.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,495
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.8%
Overall absence
22.5%
Persistent absence
80
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Carlton Digby School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Carlton Digby School
What are SATs results like at Carlton Digby School?
Of the pupils at Carlton Digby School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Carlton Digby School's Ofsted rating?
Carlton Digby School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2020, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Carlton Digby School?
No fixed boundary. When Carlton Digby School is oversubscribed, Nottinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Carlton Digby School?
Carlton Digby School has around 97 pupils on roll. 43% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Carlton Digby School have specialist SEN provision?
Carlton Digby School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Carlton Digby School?
6.8% of sessions were missed at Carlton Digby School in 2024/25. 22.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Carlton Digby School?
Apply through Nottinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Carlton Digby 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.
How many road collisions happen near Carlton Digby School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Carlton Digby School?
Carlton Digby School is at 61 Digby Avenue, Mapperley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 6DS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)