The Suthers School
79%
Capacity
652
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About The Suthers School
The Suthers School is a mixed state secondary in Newark and Sherwood that is clearly in demand. With 652 pupils on roll against a capacity of 830, there is room to grow, but the school is already oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry: 371 applications were received for 149 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.49. Of those, 132 offers went to first-preference applicants, suggesting strong local appeal. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 25.3%, which is notably above the national average for secondary schools and indicates a diverse intake with above-average levels of disadvantage. The school has no religious character and does not offer boarding, nursery provision, or a formal sixth form, so its focus is squarely on the 11–16 age range. Headteacher Nicola Watkin leads a school that has seen significant improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.2 is slightly below the local authority average of -0.11, placing it 24th out of 46 similar schools in Nottinghamshire. In the Newark and Sherwood local area specifically, it ranks 3rd out of 5 schools on this measure. The Attainment 8 score is 41.4, and 63.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 44.4% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 22.2%, with 15.3% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 and only 4.2% at grade 5. The school’s Progress 8 banding is rated as ‘Average’, and the breakdown shows positive progress in maths (0.02) and near-average in English (-0.06), while open subjects and EBacc elements are weaker. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, the school was rated Good across all categories, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, science labs, art studios, and a sixth form centre, despite not having a formal sixth form. Sports on offer include rowing, netball, football, rugby, tennis, and basketball, while clubs range from debate and chess to gardening, orchestra, and eco club. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This breadth of support, combined with the school’s oversubscribed status and improving Ofsted record, suggests it is a popular choice for families in Newark and Sherwood, particularly those looking for a secondary that has made clear progress in recent years and offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cross Lane, Newark, Newark and Sherwood, NG24 3NH |
| Headteacher | Nicola Watkin |
| Local Authority | Nottinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 652 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.3% |
| School Capacity | 652 / 830 (79% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.20)
2005th of 3,141
Nationally
159th of 273
In East Midlands
3rd of 5
In Newark and Sherwood
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
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
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed149
371
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
136 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: suthersschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.6%
- White (other)9.5%
- Mixed4.9%
- Asian1.0%
- Black0.2%
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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
0
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 Suthers 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
Cross Lane, Newark
Newark and Sherwood, NG24 3NH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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