Arnold Hill Spencer Academy
90%
Capacity
1,518
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Arnold Hill Spencer Academy
Arnold Hill Spencer Academy has turned a corner. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was judged to be Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. More tellingly, its sixth form provision was rated Outstanding, and every other category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — was judged Good. On the academic front, the school’s Progress 8 score sits at 0.07, meaning pupils leave with outcomes slightly above the national average. That’s a solid result, especially when you consider the local Nottinghamshire average Progress 8 score is -0.11, so pupils here are outperforming their peers across the authority by a meaningful margin. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 48.1 also points to a decent level of overall achievement at GCSE.
At GCSE, 72% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though the figure drops to 51.7% for the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 20.7%, and only 13.8% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. That said, the school’s Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, and the data shows positive progress in English (0.09) and EBacc subjects (0.15), with maths essentially flat at 0.01. In the sixth form, the picture is stronger. The average A-level grade is a B-, with 20.7% of entries achieving AAB or higher, and the value-added score of 0.1 places the school in the Average band. The best three A-levels average out at 37.14 points, again a B-. Nationally, the school ranks in the 43rd percentile for Progress 8, and fourth out of six schools in the Gedling local authority area.
The school is large, with 1,518 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,682, and it’s clearly popular: for 2025/26 entry, there were 658 applications for 251 places, making it oversubscribed by a factor of 2.62. Facilities are strong, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs — from Film Club to Model UN and DofE — and sports including rowing, rugby, and hockey. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. Parent views are mixed: 73% would recommend the school, and most parents agree their child is happy and feels safe, though concerns about SEND support and how concerns are handled are more divided. This is a school that suits families looking for solid, above-average progress in a large, well-equipped setting with a strong sixth form, but it’s worth noting the oversubscription means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Gedling Road, Gedling Road,, Nottingham, Gedling, NG5 6NZ |
| Headteacher | Ian Simpson |
| Local Authority | Nottinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,518 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,518 / 1,682 (90% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.07)
1364th of 3,141
Nationally
105th of 273
In East Midlands
4th of 6
In Gedling
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.6
'22/23
32.7
'23/24
35.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 103 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
34%
Russell Group
37%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment23%
- Not sustained7%
- Other education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Ofsted Parent View
171 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed251
658
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
194 families put this school as their 1st choice (29% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British67.9%
- Mixed10.4%
- Asian6.0%
- White (other)2.9%
- Black0.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
15
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
12
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arnold Hill Spencer Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Gedling Road, Gedling Road,, Nottingham
Gedling, NG5 6NZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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