Nottingham Free School
108%
Capacity
673
Pupils
4.2x
Demand
About Nottingham Free School
Nottingham Free School sits in the Nottingham local authority, where it ranks second out of 14 secondary schools on Progress 8, comfortably ahead of the local average. Its closest competitors in the authority are Fernwood School, The Trinity Catholic School A Voluntary Academy, and Bluecoat Wollaton Academy, but Nottingham Free School’s Progress 8 score of 0.29 puts it well above the Nottingham average of -0.25. The school is oversubscribed by a wide margin: for 2025/26, it received 489 applications for 116 places, with 160 families listing it as their first preference. That kind of demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with a sixth form, led by headteacher Jo Simpson. It was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2017, and an ungraded inspection in November 2022 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management judged Outstanding.
Academically, the school performs well above the local baseline. Its Progress 8 score of 0.29 is rated Above average nationally, meaning pupils typically achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than similar pupils across the country. Attainment 8 sits at 52.7, and 80.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 58.6% at the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is 54.1%, with 44.1% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score of 0.17 is rated Average, with an average A-level grade of B- and 35.55 points per entry. The best three A-levels average out at a B- grade, and 19.4% of entries achieved AAB or higher. These results place the school 61st in the East Midlands region and 857th nationally.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a broad range of sports from football and rugby to martial arts and cross country, plus clubs like Debate, Orchestra, Chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is extensive, covering ten categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health support. With 25.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is oversubscribed, so families need to apply early and be aware of the high first-preference ratio. This is a strong, well-regarded secondary that suits families looking for academic progress above the local norm, with a broad extracurricular offer and solid sixth-form options.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | The Courtaulds Building, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG5 1EB |
| Headteacher | Jo Simpson |
| Local Authority | Nottingham |
| Number of Pupils | 673 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.4% |
| School Capacity | 673 / 626 (108% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Nov 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 24 Jul 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.29)
857th of 3,141
Nationally
61st of 273
In East Midlands
2nd of 14
In Nottingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
35.7
'22/23
34.0
'23/24
35.5
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
2022/2356%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 32 pupils).
- University (HE)56%
- Employment16%
- Other education9%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education3%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed116
489
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
160 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British42.1%
- Asian26.8%
- Mixed13.5%
- White (other)4.3%
- Black1.5%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
13
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
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 Nottingham Free 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
The Courtaulds Building, Nottingham
Nottingham, NG5 1EB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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