Academy converter · Nottinghamshire

The Joseph Whitaker School

11–18Ages
1,361Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137628URN

Warsop Lane, Rainworth, Mansfield, NG21 0AG · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

close to Nottinghamshire median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Nottinghamshire

570 applications for 243 places · 22nd of 43 in Nottinghamshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.7of 90

Nottinghamshire 46.8 England 46.0

27th of 45 in Nottinghamshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 12 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

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

2.4applications per place, Year 7

close to Nottinghamshire median (2.4) close to England median (2.2)

570 applications · 243 places offered · 296 named it first

2026 2.4; Nottinghamshire median median 2.4
2025 2.1; Nottinghamshire median median 2.3
2024 2.1; Nottinghamshire median median 2.2
2023 2.1; Nottinghamshire median median 2.2
2022 2.1; Nottinghamshire median median 2.1
2021 2.0; Nottinghamshire median median 2.0
2020 1.9; Nottinghamshire median median 1.9
2019 1.8; Nottinghamshire median median 1.9
2018 1.6; Nottinghamshire median median 1.7
2017 1.5; Nottinghamshire median median 1.8
2016 1.5; Nottinghamshire median median 2.0
2015 1.5; Nottinghamshire median median 1.8
2014 1.5; Nottinghamshire median median 1.8

More applications per place than the Nottinghamshire median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Nottinghamshire 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	243	570	2.4	296	1.22
Sep 2025	242	517	2.1	241	1.00
Sep 2024	242	506	2.1	238	0.98
Sep 2023	242	510	2.1	256	1.06
Sep 2022	235	500	2.1	263	1.12
Sep 2021	245	497	2.0	289	1.18
Sep 2020	244	465	1.9	251	1.03
Sep 2019	244	442	1.8	252	1.03
Sep 2018	244	388	1.6	247	1.01
Sep 2017	241	366	1.5	263	1.09
Sep 2016	211	320	1.5	208	0.99
Sep 2015	211	312	1.5	220	1.04
Sep 2014	210	320	1.5	219	1.04

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

243 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.727th of 45 in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire 46.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%27th of 45 in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths68%

Nottinghamshire 68% England 66%

This school
Nottinghamshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.02

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	243	45.7	44%	68%	–
2024/25	229	43.2	38%	59%	–
2023/24	223	44.7	40%	68%	−0.02
2022/23	238	44.3	42%	64%	−0.03

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

The Joseph Whitaker SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.4applications per place 45.7Attainment 8
Sherwood Church Academy
4.9 km · Nottinghamshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.0applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
The Garibaldi School
5.2 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2023

2.2applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
The Brunts Academy
6.1 km · Nottinghamshire

2026

3.0applications per place 45.4Attainment 8
Queen Elizabeth's Academy
7.2 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2023

2.5applications per place 32.3Attainment 8
All Saints' Catholic Voluntary Academy
7.5 km · Nottinghamshire

Remains Good2022

2.8applications per place 51.5Attainment 8
The Manor Academy
7.7 km · Nottinghamshire

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Colonel Frank Seely Academy
8.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2022

3.0applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Kirkby
8.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 40.5Attainment 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: 137628 · 891/4408
Trust: East Midlands Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,250 pupils · 1,361 on roll
Free school meals: 24.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 November 2011
Replaced: Joseph Whitaker School (URN 122866)
Address: Warsop Lane, Rainworth, Mansfield, NG21 0AG
Local authority: Nottinghamshire · Newark and Sherwood

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