The Oakwood Academy

About The Oakwood Academy

The Oakwood Academy is a mixed secondary school in Gedling, Nottingham, for pupils aged 11 to 16. With 746 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,600, the school is significantly under-enrolled, operating at less than half its physical capacity. This is notable in a local authority where demand for places can be high. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.5%, which is above the national average for secondary schools, indicating a higher-than-typical level of socio-economic disadvantage among its intake. Despite this spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 387 applications for 322 total places. Of those, 257 were first-preference applications, and all 257 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is popular locally, it is not so oversubscribed that it is difficult to secure a place as a first choice.

Academically, The Oakwood Academy presents a mixed picture. In the 2023/24 exam results, its Progress 8 score was -0.27, meaning pupils achieved just under a quarter of a grade less per subject than the national average. This places the school in the bottom 50 nationally for progress, ranking 2,153 out of 3,141 schools. Within the East Midlands, it sits at 175th out of 273 schools. Locally in Gedling, it ranks 6th out of 6 schools, and across the wider Nottingham local authority it ranks 9th out of 21 secondary schools. The school's Attainment 8 score was 43.3, and the basics measure (grade 5 or above in English and maths) was achieved by 36% of pupils, compared to 62.9% at grade 4 or above. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.25, so the school is broadly in line with its LA peers, though slightly below. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school as Good overall, with Good leadership and management, a significant improvement from its Requires Improvement rating in 2012.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and art studios, alongside a strong extracurricular programme with clubs such as Eco Club, Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, and Model UN. Sports on offer include basketball, football, rugby, and martial arts. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, with support for specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and a resourced provision. There is no sixth form, so pupils must plan for post-16 options elsewhere. Given its below-average progress scores but Good Ofsted rating and strong facilities, The Oakwood Academy may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and inclusive SEND support, and who are comfortable with a school that is improving but still working to raise academic outcomes to match its local peers.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Oakwood Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents