The Elizabethan Academy

About The Elizabethan Academy

The Elizabethan Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.46 places it well below the Nottinghamshire local authority average of -0.11, a gap that marks it as one of the weaker performers in the county for pupil progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs. Ranked 34th out of 46 similar schools in the authority, it sits firmly in the bottom half of the table, and its national percentile of roughly 81 means most schools across England achieve stronger value-added results. This is a school where, on average, pupils leave with lower GCSE grades than their prior attainment would predict, particularly in English (Progress 8 English: -0.48) and the EBacc subjects (-0.57). Maths fares slightly better but still negative at -0.32. For parents focused squarely on academic progress metrics, this is a significant concern and the central reason the school’s ranking sits where it does.

That said, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good across every category — overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision all received a Grade 2. This is a consistent improvement from its previous 2018 inspection, which also rated overall effectiveness Good but did not publish breakdowns for several categories. At Key Stage 4, 51.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score sits at 37.6. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value-added score of -0.22 is classed as Below average, with an average points per entry of 24.11 (equivalent to a D+ grade). Only 48 pupils took A-levels in the 2023/24 data, so the sixth form is relatively small, and no pupils achieved the AAB combination in facilitating subjects.

The Elizabethan Academy is a large secondary with capacity for 1,458 pupils and currently 1,202 on roll, meaning it is not full. It is oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, however, with 557 applications for 224 places and 220 first-preference offers made from 294 first-preference applications — a ratio of 2.49 applicants per place. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sixth-form centre, and astro turf, plus sports from netball to cricket and clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. Its SEND provisions cover seven areas including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 24.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake. This is a school that may suit families who value a Good Ofsted rating, strong facilities, and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are willing to accept academic outcomes that trail the local average.

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