The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form

About The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form

The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form in Rushcliffe posts a Progress 8 score of 0.16, which sits comfortably above the Nottinghamshire local authority average of -0.11 for secondary schools. That gap of 0.27 is meaningful — it means pupils here, on average, make about three months more academic progress between Year 7 and Year 11 than their peers across the county. The school ranks 10th out of 46 secondary schools in Nottinghamshire, placing it in the top quarter of the LA. Its Attainment 8 score of 52 is solid, and 75% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, dropping to 60.3% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score of 4.62 and a 34% entry rate into the EBacc suite suggest a broad academic diet, though the school's ranking within Rushcliffe — 5th out of 7 — shows it faces stiff competition from higher-performing neighbours like Rushcliffe Spencer Academy and The West Bridgford School.

In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was judged Good across the board, with a notable Outstanding rating for its sixth-form provision. The sixth form itself is a real strength: A-level students achieved an average grade of B- per entry, with 34.6 points across their best three A-levels, and the progress banding was rated Average. The value-added score of -0.08 is close to the national baseline, meaning students leave sixth form with results broadly in line with their prior attainment. At KS4, the Progress 8 breakdown shows a mixed picture: maths progress is positive at 0.19, and EBacc subjects are strong at 0.27, but English progress sits at -0.1, suggesting some inconsistency. The school's parent view survey, based on 170 responses, is largely positive — 83% would recommend the school, and 91% agree or strongly agree their child is happy. However, only 56% agree that concerns are dealt with properly, and SEND support divides opinion, with 51% agreeing and 42% disagreeing that children get the help they need.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 206 Year 7 places in 2025/26, it received 629 applications, a ratio of 3.05 applicants per place, with 165 of those offers going to first-preference families. Facilities are generous for a state school — a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth-form centre are all on site. The clubs and sports list is extensive, including Model UN, DofE, martial arts, and orchestra. SEND provision covers dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, and speech and language needs. With 15.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. This is a school that suits families who want strong sixth-form options, a wide range of extracurriculars, and academic results above the local average, but who are comfortable with a large, popular school where some parent satisfaction scores — particularly around communication and SEND — are more mixed.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form

Helpful Guides for Parents