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Academy sponsor led · Nottingham

Farnborough Spencer Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,005Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 146564URN

Farnborough Road, Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 8JW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.1per place
0.7 below Nottingham median (1.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Nottingham

198 applications for 177 places · 18th of 19 in Nottingham
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
37.9of 90
17th of 19 in Nottingham
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

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
1.1applications per place, Year 7
0.7 below Nottingham median (1.8) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

198 applications · 177 places offered · 149 named it first

  1. 2026 1.1; Nottingham median median 1.8
  2. 2025 1.0; Nottingham median median 2.0
  3. 2024 1.1; Nottingham median median 1.9
  4. 2023 1.0; Nottingham median median 1.9
  5. 2022 0.9; Nottingham median median 1.9
  6. 2021 0.9; Nottingham median median 1.9
  7. 2020 0.9; Nottingham median median 2.0
  8. 2019 1.0; Nottingham median median 1.9
  9. 2018 1.1; Nottingham median median 2.2; as the previous school
  10. 2017 1.2; Nottingham median median 2.0; as the previous school
  11. 2016 1.3; Nottingham median median 2.2; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.1; Nottingham median median 2.0; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.1; Nottingham median median 2.0; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Nottingham median in 0 of 8 years.
  • This school
  • Nottingham median

Dashed bars: as Farnborough Academy (URN 141335), Farnborough School Technology College (URN 122835), Fairham Community College (URN 122837), the previous school.

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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261771981.11490.84
Sep 20251701741.01390.82
Sep 20242032301.11830.90
Sep 20231931881.01510.78
Sep 20221931760.91310.68
Sep 20211911760.91420.74
Sep 20201711570.91250.73
Sep 20191591521.01260.79
Sep 2018 *1651771.11230.75
Sep 2017 *1401631.21270.91
Sep 2016 *1211601.31100.91
Sep 2015 *1531631.11300.85
Sep 2014 *1611771.11250.78

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

189 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.917th of 19 in Nottingham
Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%13th of 19 in Nottingham
Grade 4 or above in English and maths51%
  • This school
  • Nottingham median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.64
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)18937.933%51%–
2024/2518138.941%55%–
2023/2415733.821%41%−0.64
2022/2314637.121%48%−0.64

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

  • 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 sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
146564 · 892/4012
Trust
The Spencer Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,050 pupils · 1,005 on roll
Free school meals
42.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 October 2018
Replaced
Farnborough Academy (URN 141335); Farnborough School Technology College (URN 122835); Fairham Community College (URN 122837)
Address
Farnborough Road, Clifton, Nottingham, NG11 8JW
Local authority
Nottingham

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