Outwood Academy Kirkby, Nottingham

In 2026, pupils at Outwood Academy Kirkby averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Nottinghamshire and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Nottinghamshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 36.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.22: 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 33.8, against 48.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Hospitality and Catering.

For September 2026 entry, 65 families put Outwood Academy Kirkby as their first choice and 164 named it as one of their preferences, for 75 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 Outwood Academy Kirkby are Ashfield Comprehensive School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.2); Sutton Community Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.1); Quarrydale Academy (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.3); and Selston High School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.1).

Outwood Academy Kirkby's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Outwood Academy Kirkby is one of 40 schools run by Outwood Grange Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.4 in 2024/25.

95 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Outwood Academy Kirkby (as of September 2025): 43% would recommend the school, 57% say their child is happy there and 29% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (62%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (29%).

Of the 72 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 74% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 68% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

49.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Black (7%).

In 2026, 120 pupils (22.9%) received SEN support and 15 (2.9%) 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 Kirkby in Ashfield Rail Station, about 520 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Nags Head, 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 173 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Outwood Academy Kirkby issued 1433 suspensions, 262.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 12 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Outwood Academy Kirkby are Morven Park Primary and Nursery School (0.2 miles), Kingsway Primary School (0.4 miles), Abbey Hill Primary & Nursery (0.5 miles) and The West Park Academy (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.