Carlton Academy

About Carlton Academy

Carlton Academy sits in the Gedling borough of Nottinghamshire, a secondary school that ranks fifth out of six schools of its type in the local authority area. Among its top-performing local peers are Rushcliffe Spencer Academy, The West Bridgford School, and Carlton le Willows Academy, all of which sit above it in the local rankings. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Dan Philpotts. It is significantly oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 622 applications for 257 places, with 305 of those coming as first preferences. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation, even if its Progress 8 score of 0.03 places it in the middle of the pack nationally, at the 46th percentile. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Redhill Academy, 4.2 kilometres away.

Academically, Carlton Academy’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. The school had previously been rated Requires Improvement in 2011, so the upgrade reflects genuine progress. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.03, which is classed as Average and sits comfortably above the Nottinghamshire local authority average of -0.11. Attainment 8 stood at 47.9, and 68.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 50.9 per cent, with 35.4 per cent achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value added score was -0.18, classed as Below average, with pupils averaging a C grade per entry and 29.95 points per entry. The best three A-levels averaged a C grade, and 15.1 per cent of entries were graded AAB or higher.

The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, science labs, music rooms, an ICT suite, and an astro turf pitch. Sports provision is broad, with options like rowing, martial arts, and hockey alongside more traditional offerings. Clubs include Eco Club, Debate, Orchestra, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and supports a range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 24.7 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is a good fit for families in Gedling and surrounding areas who want a large, oversubscribed secondary with solid GCSE outcomes above the local average, though those prioritising top-tier A-level value added may want to look more closely at the sixth form results.

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