Schools by area › Nottingham › Fernwood School
Fernwood School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2FT · fernwoodschool.org.uk · 0115 928 6326
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 53.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Nottingham 43, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,543
- 43 over 1,500 places · 103%
- Local authority
- Nottingham
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18.2%
- First language not English
- 34%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 426 families put the school first and 293 places were offered; 67% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 293 | 426 | 1.5▲ | 67% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 278 | 320 | 1.2▲ | 85% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 298 | 358 | 1.2▲ | 80% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 303 | 305 | 1▲ | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 297 | 304 | 1▲ | 92% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 53.8, and 63% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Nottingham it was 43, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲53.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲63.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲79.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼34.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.78 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 6.5 | −5.6 |
| Sixth form college | 65.9 | +10.3 |
| Further education | 18.9 | −3.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.9 | −0.1 |
| Employment | 0.5 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.1 | +0.7 |
| Activity not captured | 3.2 | −0.7 |
Ofsted
Fernwood School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 12 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 12 Mar 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Apr 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Apr 2012Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding May 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (145 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Replies
- 145
- 10% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 74% who raised concerns
based on the 27% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (17%) with SEND