Secondary school

Fernwood School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Nottingham
  • NG8 2FT
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Outstanding · inspected Mar 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 576 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 18%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 18%18%2016/17: top 28%2017/18: top 27%2018/19: top 22%2021/22: top 14%2022/23: top 10%2023/24: top 9%9% · 2023/242024/25: top 18%No exams

Against East MidlandsArrows: East Midlands rank change since 2018/19

Attainment 853.8 · East Midlands 459/10 Top 20%
Grade 5+ English and maths63% · East Midlands 41.6%9/10 Top 20%
EBacc point score4.78 · East Midlands 3.929/10 Top 20%
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.60 · East Midlands −0.0610/10 Top 10%+17.6 pts
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 55.8 · 199 pupils · East Midlands 49.32016/17: 50.1 · 201 pupils · East Midlands 452017/18: 50.5 · 202 pupils · East Midlands 44.652018/19: 52.4 · 199 pupils · East Midlands 45.72021/22: 58 · 207 pupils · East Midlands 47.52022/23: 57.8 · 211 pupils · East Midlands 44.62023/24: 59.2 · 217 pupils · East Midlands 44.952024/25: 53.8 · 297 pupils · East Midlands 45.0559.250.1No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 51% · 201 pupils · East Midlands 39%2017/18: 54% · 202 pupils · East Midlands 39.5%2018/19: 56% · 199 pupils · East Midlands 40%2021/22: 70% · 207 pupils · East Midlands 46%2022/23: 70% · 211 pupils · East Midlands 41%2023/24: 72.8% · 217 pupils · East Midlands 43.8%2024/25: 63% · 297 pupils · East Midlands 41.6%72.8%51%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in67.1%
286 of 426 who put it first2014 · 78.1%2026 · 67.1%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st426286
2nd1707
3rd1260

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  1. 2007Goodas predecessor
  2. 2012Outstanding
  3. 2024Outstanding

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,543
Free school meals (past 6 years)20.0%
First language not English34.2%
SEN support8.3%
EHC plan0.9%
Absence (sessions missed)6.5%
Persistently absent pupils16.1%

Girls 47.1%Boys 52.9%

102.9% full · 1,500 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 145 responses (10.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school86.9% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school89% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved89% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 73.1% not applicable46.2% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year77.9% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 25.5% not applicable72.2% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed54.2% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child91% agree
  • My child does well at this school89% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing87.6% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.2% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school90.3% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development86.2% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent88.3% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher16.6
Pupils per adult12.5
  • Classroom teachers 88
  • Leadership 5
  • Teaching assistants 16.9
  • Other support 43.2

Teachers 93 FTE · Whole workforce 153.1 · 182 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,350
Spend per pupil£7,048
Staff spend per pupil£5,478
Reserve per pupil£693
  • +£1,067,000revenue reserve
  • +£465,000in-year balance

Grants £7,163 · self-generated £263 · premises £346 per pupil

Single-academy trust: THE FERNWOOD ACADEMY TRUST

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

217 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained92.6%
  • Education91.2%
  • Apprenticeship0.9%
  • Employment0.5%
  • Not sustained4.1%
  • Unknown3.2%