The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form, Nottingham

In its own words: "At South Wolds we get the balance right between outstanding exam results and wider personal development. Our superb performance in exam league tables is balanced with a vast range of exciting opportunities that aim to develop the whole child. This is what makes South Wolds unique. Behaviour is outstanding at the Academy."

In 2026, pupils at The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Nottinghamshire and 47 across England.

55% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Nottinghamshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 53.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.16: pupils made above 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 54.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 21 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 178 families put The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form as their first choice and 660 named it as one of their preferences, for 168 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 22 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form are Rushcliffe Spencer Academy (3.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.3); The West Bridgford School (3.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.4); Farnborough Spencer Academy (4.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.9); and East Leake Academy (4.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.5).

The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form 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 South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 72% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (72%).

Of the 156 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 76 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 50% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 19% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 38 pupils (3.7%) received SEN support and 21 (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.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Ruddington Lane Tram Stop, about 4.2 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shops (opposite), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 34 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101).

In 2024/25, The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form issued 82 suspensions, 8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form are Keyworth Primary and Nursery School (0.2 miles), Crossdale Primary School (0.5 miles) and Willow Brook Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.