FUEL, Nottingham
FUEL is an independent school for pupils aged 13 to 16 in Nottingham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
FUEL in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for FUEL can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to FUEL are Jamia Al-Hudaa Residential College (0.8 miles, Good, selective); Take 1 Learning Centre (0.9 miles, Good); Green Crescent School (1 mile, Requires improvement); and Hollygirt School (1.1 miles).
Jamia Al-Hudaa Residential CollegeTake 1 Learning CentreGreen Crescent SchoolHollygirt School
Who goes there
In 2026, 18 pupils (60%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Beaconsfield Street Tram Stop, about 1150 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Teesdale Road, 250 metres away.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
FUEL excels at transforming pupils' perceptions of school into positive experiences. Staff provide exceptional personal development education alongside strong academic support, helping vulnerable young people rebuild confidence and gain qualifications. The school's commitment to linking learning to real life - from fixing outdoor fences to arranging work experience in top restaurants and government departments - gives pupils genuine pathways to success.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding - pupils show significant improvements in conduct and attendance from their starting points
- Personal development is exceptional - comprehensive programme covers substance misuse, knife crime, online safety, consent and healthy relationships
- Excellent careers guidance with valuable work experience placements matched to pupils' talents and interests
- Teachers skilfully identify and address gaps in learning, helping pupils earn qualifications that open pathways forward
- Strong safeguarding arrangements with deep understanding of pupils' needs and backgrounds
Areas for Improvement
- Some activities do not fully support pupils in writing with accuracy and purpose across the curriculum, affecting their confidence and independence in writing
- School should ensure more well-considered opportunities for pupils to develop writing knowledge and skills securely across different subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff demonstrating deep understanding of pupils' needs and creating a positive, safe learning environment where pupils can build trust and confidence.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experience placements in Michelin-starred restaurants, accredited builders and government departments
FUEL is an independent school for pupils aged 13-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, rated Good overall. The school successfully transforms pupils' negative experiences of education into positive outcomes, helping them progress to further education, training and employment.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Latest from FUEL
Macmillan Coffee Morning at FUEL in the Community
17 Sep 2026
FUEL Independent School Named Secondary School of the Year 2026!
15 Sep 2026
Music, Real Stories & Positive Choices
10 Sep 2026
Year 11 HMRC Work Experience
7 Apr 2026
Future Chef Competition 2025
10 Dec 2025
Children in Need 2025
14 Nov 2025
From FUEL's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with FUEL
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 42
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 42 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 28 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 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 Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 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
67%
Available places
30 pupils
45 places
15 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nottingham
Across Nottingham council
Places available
3,708
Applications
3,688
Got 1st preference
80.3%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Nottingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
60.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
30
Total Pupils
19
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about FUEL
What are GCSE results like at FUEL?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for FUEL can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is FUEL's Ofsted rating?
FUEL was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025.
Does FUEL meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2025, FUEL met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to FUEL?
FUEL has around 30 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to FUEL?
FUEL is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near FUEL?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 42 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 28 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 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 Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is FUEL?
FUEL is at Unit 7, Ellesmere Business Park, Nottingham, NG5 1DX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)