Woodlands Academy, Nottingham
Woodlands Academy is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 16 in Nottingham, part of Raleigh Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Woodlands Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Woodlands Academy are Oak Field School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); Willowfield Academy (0.7 miles, Good); Silver Linings School (0.8 miles, Good); and Foxwood Academy (2.7 miles, Good).
Oak Field SchoolWillowfield AcademySilver Linings SchoolFoxwood Academy
The trust
Woodlands Academy is one of 7 schools run by Raleigh Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college.
Who goes there
67.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 20.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Woodlands Academy has an education, health and care plan (96 of 96 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Woodlands Academy has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties: 92 places, 96 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Wilkinson Street Tram Stop, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fremount Drive (opposite), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Woodlands Academy issued 4 suspensions, 4.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Woodlands Academy creates a respectful, caring atmosphere where pupils are happy and eager to learn. The school excels at supporting pupils' emotional and social needs while providing exceptional enrichment opportunities like international trips, performances and community projects. Staff are highly ambitious for pupils and tailor their teaching to individual needs across all subjects.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes - pupils are respectful, eager learners with highly positive classroom conduct
- Outstanding personal development through a unique 'life skills' curriculum and cultural opportunities including international journeys to Poland and Egypt
- Strong systematic approach to teaching early reading, phonics and communication with well-trained staff providing consistent support
- Small teaching groups providing individual attention that helps pupils learn effectively
- Effective support for pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs with trained staff offering sensitive guidance
Areas for Improvement
- School does not track pupils' achievements in relation to EHC plan targets precisely enough
- Broad targets from EHC plans are not systematically broken down into small, achievable steps for staff
- Need to refine assessment practices to ensure pupils with the most complex needs (yellow pathway) fulfil their potential
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong safeguarding culture and appropriate systems in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir performances in the city, residential experiences, local walks, community ventures, art exhibitions, international journeys to Poland and Egypt
Woodlands Academy is a special school for pupils with additional needs, predominantly autism, where pupils thrive in a caring, welcoming environment with excellent behaviour and highly positive attitudes to learning.
At a Glance
67.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Woodlands Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodlands Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodlands Academy is in Nottingham; for families living there:
Apply to Nottingham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
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
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)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
96
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Woodlands Academy has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties: 92 places, 96 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
96
Total Pupils
72
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
7.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,005
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.2%
Overall absence
30.3%
Persistent absence
99
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Woodlands Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Woodlands Academy
What are GCSE results like at Woodlands Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Woodlands Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Woodlands Academy's Ofsted rating?
Woodlands Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Woodlands Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Woodlands Academy is oversubscribed, Nottingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Woodlands Academy?
Woodlands Academy has around 96 pupils on roll. 68% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Woodlands Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Woodlands Academy has a SEN unit for autism and moderate learning difficulties: 92 places, 96 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Woodlands Academy?
12.2% of sessions were missed at Woodlands Academy in 2024/25. 30.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Woodlands Academy?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Woodlands Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Woodlands Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 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 Woodlands Academy?
Woodlands Academy is at Beechdale Road, Aspley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG8 3EZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)