The Wells Academy
88%
Capacity
704
Pupils
1.0x
Demand
About The Wells Academy
The Wells Academy, a mixed secondary school in Nottingham for pupils aged 11 to 16, posts academic results that fall significantly below the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of -0.95 is a long way behind the Nottingham average of -0.25, placing it 16th out of 21 similar schools in the area. This means that, on average, pupils at The Wells Academy achieve nearly a grade less per subject across their eight best GCSEs than students in other Nottingham schools with similar starting points. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 34.2, and its EBacc average point score is 2.96. Only 23.5% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and just 5.3% achieved a strong pass (grade 5 or above) in both English and maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 5% for Progress 8, which gives a clear picture of the academic challenge it currently faces.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023 rated it as Requires Improvement overall, with the same grade for leadership, behaviour, and quality of education. The one area inspectors judged as Good was personal development. The Parent View survey, based on 36 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, tells a more nuanced story. A strong majority of parents who responded said they would recommend the school (92%), and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. Similarly, 94% felt their child is safe, and 89% agreed the school has high expectations. However, the survey also revealed some concerns: a quarter of respondents disagreed that the school keeps them informed about how their child is doing, and the SEND support question received no responses at all, making it impossible to gauge parent opinion on that front.
The Wells Academy operates below its capacity of 800, with 704 pupils on roll, and was not oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 96 applications for 98 places. The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, art studios, and an astro turf pitch, plus clubs like coding, debate, and Model UN. Its SEND provisions cover seven areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (47%), the school serves a community with significant disadvantage. This is a school that parents describe as safe and happy, but the academic data and Ofsted rating suggest it is still working to raise attainment. It may suit families who prioritise a supportive atmosphere over headline exam results, and who are willing to engage closely with the school’s improvement journey.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Ransom Drive, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG3 5LR |
| Headteacher | George Coles |
| Local Authority | Nottingham |
| Number of Pupils | 704 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.0% |
| School Capacity | 704 / 800 (88% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 6 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.95)
2995th of 3,141
Nationally
269th of 273
In East Midlands
14th of 14
In Nottingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Ofsted Parent View
36 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/2698
96
Places Available
More places available than applications received
58 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British24.3%
- Mixed16.4%
- Asian12.2%
- White (other)8.8%
- Black2.0%
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
8
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Wells Academy
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Ransom Drive, Nottingham
Nottingham, NG3 5LR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at The Wells Academy!
Write a Review