Ashfield Comprehensive School
82%
Capacity
2,584
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Ashfield Comprehensive School
Ashfield Comprehensive School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.08 sits just above the Nottinghamshire local authority average of -0.11, placing it in the middle of the pack for a large secondary. That might not sound like a huge gap, but in a county with 46 state secondaries, it means the school is performing slightly better than the typical local school when it comes to the progress pupils make from Key Stage 2 to GCSEs. The school ranks 22nd out of those 46 schools, which puts it squarely in the middle third of Nottinghamshire secondaries. What stands out more is the variation within subjects: pupils make notably stronger progress in maths (0.26) than in English (-0.4), a split that suggests the school’s maths department is particularly effective at moving students forward, while English results could use some attention. The Attainment 8 score of 45.4 is solid for a comprehensive, and 65% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, which is a decent benchmark.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is rated as having average progress, with a value-added score of exactly 0 and a points per entry of 34.16, equivalent to a C+ grade. Around 13.8% of A-level entries achieved AAB or higher, and the best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade. The school has a large sixth form with 211 pupils, so there’s plenty of breadth on offer. Ofsted last inspected in 2021 and rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The previous graded inspection in 2012 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. The ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed it remains Good, which is reassuring for parents looking for stability.
Ashfield is a very large school with 2,584 pupils on roll, well below its capacity of 3,146, so there is room to grow. It is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 802 applications for 405 places and 465 first-preference applications, meaning demand is strong but not frantic. The school has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, and a sixth form centre, plus clubs ranging from coding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision covers ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, so it is well equipped to support a diverse intake. With 28.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged community, and its above-average Progress 8 score suggests it is doing a decent job of adding value for those pupils. This is a solid, well-led comprehensive that suits families who want a large, inclusive school with strong maths teaching and a good range of extracurriculars.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sutton Road, Nottingham, Ashfield, NG17 8HP |
| Headteacher | Jenny Brown |
| Local Authority | Nottinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 2,584 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.1% |
| School Capacity | 2,584 / 3,146 (82% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (7 Oct 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 29 Mar 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1717th of 3,141
Nationally
141st of 273
In East Midlands
2nd of 7
In Ashfield
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
37.6
'22/23
35.6
'23/24
34.2
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
2022/2344%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 235 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
12%
Russell Group
14%
Top-third HE
1%
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)44%
- Employment34%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Other education6%
- Not sustained5%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed405
802
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
465 families put this school as their 1st choice (58% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.4%
- White (other)4.1%
- Mixed3.2%
- Asian2.4%
- Black0.2%
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.
Half 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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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 Ashfield Comprehensive School
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
Sutton Road, Nottingham
Ashfield, NG17 8HP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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