Academy converter · Nottingham

Fernwood School

11–16Ages
1,543Pupils
SecondaryPhase
136724URN

Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2FT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.7per place

0.9 above Nottingham median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Nottingham

796 applications for 293 places · 6th of 19 in Nottingham

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

54.6of 90

Nottingham 44.1 England 46.0

1st of 19 in Nottingham

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 12 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.7applications per place, Year 7

0.9 above Nottingham median (1.8) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

796 applications · 293 places offered · 426 named it first

2026 2.7; Nottingham median median 1.8
2025 2.4; Nottingham median median 2.0
2024 2.3; Nottingham median median 1.9
2023 2.0; Nottingham median median 1.9
2022 2.0; Nottingham median median 1.9
2021 2.1; Nottingham median median 1.9
2020 1.7; Nottingham median median 2.0
2019 2.6; Nottingham median median 1.9
2018 2.8; Nottingham median median 2.2
2017 2.8; Nottingham median median 2.0
2016 2.7; Nottingham median median 2.2
2015 2.8; Nottingham median median 2.0
2014 2.9; Nottingham median median 2.0

More applications per place than the Nottingham median in 12 of 13 years.

This school
Nottingham median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	293	796	2.7	426	1.45
Sep 2025	278	656	2.4	320	1.15
Sep 2024	298	682	2.3	358	1.20
Sep 2023	303	596	2.0	305	1.01
Sep 2022	297	593	2.0	304	1.02
Sep 2021	297	617	2.1	272	0.92
Sep 2020	300	515	1.7	234	0.78
Sep 2019	210	537	2.6	270	1.29
Sep 2018	210	578	2.8	271	1.29
Sep 2017	209	590	2.8	296	1.42
Sep 2016	200	540	2.7	251	1.25
Sep 2015	200	555	2.8	288	1.44
Sep 2014	200	582	2.9	251	1.25

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

307 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)54.61st of 19 in Nottingham

Nottingham 44.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths66%1st of 19 in Nottingham

Nottingham 41% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths79%

Nottingham 59% England 66%

This school
Nottingham median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.60

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	307	54.6	66%	79%	–
2024/25	297	53.8	63%	80%	–
2023/24	217	59.2	73%	89%	+0.60
2022/23	211	57.8	70%	85%	+0.43

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Fernwood SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

2.7applications per place 54.6Attainment 8
Nottingham University Samworth Academy
1.2 km · Nottingham

Remains Good2023

1.4applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy
1.9 km · Nottingham

Remains Good2022

1.8applications per place 36.6Attainment 8
Bramcote College
2.1 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2024

3.5applications per place 50.7Attainment 8
Bluecoat Wollaton Academy
2.1 km · Nottingham

Standards maintained2024

4.4applications per place 53.4Attainment 8
The Trinity Catholic School A Voluntary Academy
2.2 km · Nottingham

Standards maintained2024

2.7applications per place 54.4Attainment 8
Nottingham Girls' Academy
2.5 km · Nottingham

Outstanding2023

1.8applications per place 48.8Attainment 8
Alderman White School
2.9 km · Nottinghamshire

2026

3.9applications per place 53.2Attainment 8
Bluecoat Aspley Academy
3.0 km · Nottingham

Remains Good2024

4.5applications per place 45.8Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136724 · 892/4064
Trust: The Fernwood Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,500 pupils · 1,543 on roll
Free school meals: 18.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 May 2011
Replaced: Fernwood School (URN 122838)
Address: Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2FT
Local authority: Nottingham

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources