Chilwell School

About Chilwell School

Chilwell School is a popular choice among local families, with 413 applications for 208 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.99. Of those applications, 139 were first-preference choices, indicating strong local demand. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for ages 11 to 18, located in Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management and sixth-form provision also judged Good. This marks a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2012, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The school has a capacity of 1,020 and currently has 1,052 pupils on roll, so it is running slightly above capacity. Just under a fifth of pupils (19.5%) are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average for secondary schools.

Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.28, which is below the local authority average of -0.11 and places it in the bottom 50 nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved slightly less progress than their peers across the country. The Attainment 8 score was 47.7, and 67.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 18.7%, with 14% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the value-added score was -0.24, also below average, and the average points per entry was 31.29, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade. In the Broxtowe local authority, Chilwell ranks 4th out of 5 schools on Progress 8, and 29th out of 46 similar schools across Nottinghamshire. Nationally, it sits in the 69th percentile, meaning around 69% of schools perform better on this measure.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, a sixth-form centre, and playing fields. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, basketball, cricket, rowing, and rounders, and there are clubs covering chess, drama, choir, orchestra, gardening, Young Enterprise, debate, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a strong SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children need additional support. Given its oversubscription, families should ensure they apply early and consider their catchment area. The school will suit those who value a Good-rated, improving school with a wide extracurricular offer and a sixth form, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are slightly below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Chilwell School

Helpful Guides for Parents