The Joseph Whitaker School
106%
Capacity
1,328
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Joseph Whitaker School
The Joseph Whitaker School is a large secondary in Newark and Sherwood, operating above its official capacity with 1,328 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. That overspill is reflected in its admission data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 517 applications for 242 places, making it oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.14 to one. Of those, 241 were first-preference applications, and 235 first-preference offers were made, so most families who put it top got in, but competition is real. The school’s intake includes a significant proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, at 23.4%, which is notably above the national average for secondary schools. This is a comprehensive that draws from a broad catchment, and the demand suggests it holds a strong local reputation. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, with a mixed 11-18 age range, and it has its own sixth form.
Academically, the school sits in a solidly average position nationally. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.02, which is bang on the national average and slightly above the Nottinghamshire local authority average of -0.11. That places it 20th out of 46 similar schools in the county. Attainment 8 came in at 44.7, with 68.2% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 40.4% hitting grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate was 41.7%, with 24.7% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score was -0.28, which is below average, and the average points per entry was 32.89, equivalent to a C+ grade. The sixth form was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, as was every other category inspected, including behaviour and personal development.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Its SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, from specific learning difficulties like dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities, though parent views on SEND support are mixed: 55% agreed or strongly agreed that children get the support they need, while 39% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Overall, 71% of parents who responded to the Parent View survey would recommend the school. The clubs list is varied, with options like Model UN, DofE, coding, and an orchestra, plus sports including hockey, football, and gymnastics. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, well-subscribed comprehensive with a realistic academic profile and a strong local pull, particularly those who value a wide extracurricular offer and a sixth form on site.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Warsop Lane, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, NG21 0AG |
| Headteacher | Carey Ayres |
| Local Authority | Nottinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,328 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,328 / 1,250 (106% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.02)
1577th of 3,141
Nationally
132nd of 273
In East Midlands
2nd of 5
In Newark and Sherwood
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
33.8
'22/23
31.0
'23/24
32.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2339%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 195 pupils).
- FE college43%
- School sixth form (stay)39%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained3%
- Sixth form college2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2356%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 88 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
34%
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)56%
- Employment24%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics22
- Geography19
- Psychology17
- Chemistry14
- Biology13
- Religious Studies13
- Physics12
- Sociology12
- Media/Film/Tv Studies10
- English Literature7
- History7
- Drama and Theatre Studies6
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
170 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed242
517
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
241 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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.8%
- Mixed4.5%
- White (other)3.6%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.5%
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
2024/2575% 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.
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Joseph Whitaker 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
Warsop Lane, Mansfield
Newark and Sherwood, NG21 0AG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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