Nottingham University Samworth Academy
97%
Capacity
921
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Nottingham University Samworth Academy
Nottingham University Samworth Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.61 places it well below the Nottingham local authority average of -0.25 for state secondary schools, a gap that marks it as one of the lower-performing schools in the city. In fact, the school ranks 10th out of 14 schools in the LA on this measure, putting it in the bottom half locally and in the bottom 50% nationally. The school’s attainment 8 score of 38.4 is also modest, and just 30.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure), compared with 57.4% at the grade 4 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is very low at 5.8%, and only 0.6% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. These figures suggest that, for a family focused on academic outcomes, this school may not be the strongest option in Nottingham.
That said, the school has shown clear improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection. In 2017 it was graded Good overall, with Good ratings for leadership, management, and sixth-form provision, and it remains Good following an ungraded inspection in 2023. This is a significant step up from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2015. The Progress 8 breakdown reveals that the weakest area is the EBacc subjects (-0.92), while maths (-0.51) and English (-0.63) are closer to the LA average. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 203 applications for 129 places, with 95 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.57. This suggests that despite the academic metrics, the school is popular with local families, possibly due to its broader offer.
The school has a strong set of facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth-form centre, and offers a wide range of sports from martial arts to swimming. It also runs clubs such as DofE, drama, debate, and eco club. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 50.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged community. This context may help explain the academic results, and families prioritising inclusive provision, strong facilities, and a supportive environment over headline exam scores may find this school a good fit.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bramhall Road, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG8 4HY |
| Headteacher | Carl Elder |
| Local Authority | Nottingham |
| Number of Pupils | 921 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 50.2% |
| School Capacity | 921 / 950 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (18 May 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Oct 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.61)
2750th of 3,141
Nationally
238th of 273
In East Midlands
10th of 14
In Nottingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2336%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 11 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
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)36%
- Not sustained27%
- Employment18%
- Apprenticeship9%
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed129
203
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
95 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British46.8%
- Mixed14.4%
- Asian13.9%
- White (other)5.8%
- Black1.6%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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
12
Oversubscribed
9
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 University Samworth 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
Bramhall Road, Nottingham
Nottingham, NG8 4HY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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