The Joseph Whitaker School, Mansfield

In its own words: "The school takes its name from Joseph Whitaker (1850-1932), a famous naturalist and sportsman who lived at nearby Rainworth Lodge. Founded in 1963, the school expanded considerably in 1971, when it became an 11-18 years mixed comprehensive. In 2004, the school was awarded specialist sports college status and we became a foundation school in 2006."

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 4 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Joseph Whitaker School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Nottinghamshire and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Nottinghamshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 43.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.02: pupils made about 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 33.4, against 48.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 296 families put The Joseph Whitaker School as their first choice and 570 named it as one of their preferences, for 243 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 56 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Joseph Whitaker School are Sherwood Church Academy (3.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36); The Garibaldi School (3.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.1); The Brunts Academy (3.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.4); and Queen Elizabeth's Academy (4.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.3).

The Joseph Whitaker School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

The Joseph Whitaker School is one of 24 schools run by East Midlands Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.3 in 2024/25.

170 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Joseph Whitaker School (as of September 2025): 71% would recommend the school, 74% say their child is happy there and 44% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (44%).

Of the 223 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 108 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 179 pupils (13.2%) received SEN support and 30 (2.2%) 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.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Joseph Whitaker School.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Joseph Whitaker School (outside), 100 metres away.

In 2024/25, The Joseph Whitaker School issued 436 suspensions, 32.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Joseph Whitaker School are Lake View Primary and Nursery School (0.2 miles), The Python Hill Academy (0.6 miles), Blidworth Oaks Primary School (0.9 miles) and Heathlands Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.