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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 141010

Nottingham Free School

Free schools · Nottingham · NG5 1EB

Ages 11–18 · 699 pupils · Nottingham

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

52.7

Overall absence

6.6%

Admissions demand

1.55 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2023-01-18

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.29
−20+2
Attainment 852.7
English & maths grade 5+59%
English & maths grade 4+80%
EBacc entry54%

EBacc APS: 4.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)18.9%
Unauthorised3.9%
Authorised absence
2.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.5%
Enrolments in measure
613

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.55 · Competitive

1st preferences

184

Places offered

120

1st-preference offers

112

Total preferences (any rank)
486
Preferred offers (top 3)
120
Applications from outside LA
17
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill112%

699 pupils · 626 places

Pupils on roll
699
Boys / girls
373 / 326
School capacity
626
Capacity fill
699 / 626 (112%)
Free school meals
27.8%
FSM pupils
169
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: NOVA EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
NOVA EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Nova Education Trust
Headteacher
Dr Jo Simpson

Location

Address
The Courtaulds Building, 290 Haydn Road
Postcode
NG5 1EB
Town
Nottingham
County
Nottinghamshire
Local authority
Nottingham
District
Nottingham
Constituency
Nottingham East
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Nottingham, Nottingham, 699 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form. Free school meals: 27.8%.

Open schools in Nottingham
309
Secondary schools in Nottingham
42
Academies among open schools in Nottingham
60% (185)
Open schools in NG5
39
Secondary in NG5
7
Open schools in Nottingham LA
120
Secondary in Nottingham LA
18

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in NottinghamNear NG5

  • Bluecoat Trent Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG5 1AJ · Nottingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence8.8%
    • FSM54.6%
    • Demand0.92

    0.7 miles away

  • Djanogly City Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG7 6ND · Nottingham

    Ages 11–19

    • Att840.5
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence10.7%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Wells Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG3 5LR · Nottingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.2
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+26%
    • Absence11.3%

    1.2 miles away

  • Ellis Guilford School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG6 0HT · Nottingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att837.8
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+28%
    • Absence11.0%

    1.3 miles away

  • Bluecoat Aspley Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG8 5GY · Nottingham

    Ages 11–19

    • Att848.2
    • P80.0
    • EM5+53%
    • Absence6.3%

    1.6 miles away

  • Nottingham Girls' Academy

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG8 3LD · Nottingham

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.7
    • P80.2
    • EM5+49%
    • Absence6.1%

    1.9 miles away

  • Park Vale Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG5 9AZ · Nottingham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.0
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+35%
    • Absence11.9%

    2.1 miles away

  • Arnold Hill Spencer Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Nottingham · NG5 6NZ · Nottinghamshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.1
    • P80.1
    • EM5+52%
    • Absence9.2%

    2.1 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Dr Jo Simpson
Telephone
01158964949
Website
http://www.nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk/

Official links