Nottingham Academy, Nottingham

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Nottingham Academy on 8 areas: 2 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children experience a strong start to their education."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school has developed a well-planned, age-appropriate personal development programme."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders place a strong emphasis on language and communication."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Overall attendance is broadly in line with national figures."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school offers a broad and ambitious curriculum that is well sequenced."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of pupils' needs, including those pupils who are most vulnerable."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a strong understanding of the school's context, its strengths and areas needing improvement."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders set ambitious expectations for all students in the post-16 provision."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to refine their systems to support vulnerable pupils so that any barriers to success are consistently and effectively addressed in a timely manner"; "Leaders should expedite plans to embed the handwriting scheme into key stage 2 and have an appropriate catch-up strategy in place for those who continue to struggle to write clearly"; "Leaders need to ensure that all teaching continues to consistently build the knowledge and skills pupils need to achieve successful outcomes".

In its own words: "Our prospectus offers a comprehensive overview of everything we provide to ensure that each student thrives academically, socially, and personally during their time with us. At Nottingham Academy, we are committed to delivering a well-rounded education that prepares students for success in school and beyond."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be the Executive Principal of Nottingham Academy, and I am also very excited to be leading the academy into what I believe will be a very bright future. We are committed to providing the very best education for all our students, irrespective of their ability or background."

In 2026, pupils at Nottingham Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Nottingham and 47 across England.

30% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Nottingham and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.17: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.9, against 45 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 131 families put Nottingham Academy as their first choice and 197 named it as one of their preferences, for 169 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Nottingham Academy are Carlton Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.2); The Wells Academy (1.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.7); Clayfield House (1.7 miles); and Bluecoat Trent Academy (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.7).

Nottingham Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Nottingham Academy is one of 38 schools run by Greenwood Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.1 in 2024/25.

91 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Nottingham Academy (as of April 2026): 99% would recommend the school, 95% 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 would recommend the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).

Of the 278 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 58 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 48% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 19% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

42.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 47.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (31%), White British (22%) and Mixed (13%).

In 2026, 235 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 35 (1.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Netherfield Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greenwood Road H&R (nw-bound), 290 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Nottingham Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Nottingham Academy issued 824 suspensions, 38.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 19 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Nottingham Academy are Edale Rise Primary & Nursery School (0.5 miles), Parkdale Primary School (0.6 miles), Windmill L.E.A.D. Academy (0.6 miles) and Colwick St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.