Best secondary schools in Nottingham
Nottingham school decisions need sector discipline because student corridors skew perceptions. This ranking covers 18 secondary schools in the Nottingham local authority. Postcode area NG8 has the highest average school score (65.3 across 7 schools), while NG6 sits at the lower end (10.6). 83% of ranked Nottingham secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Nottingham on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Nottingham comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Nottingham
Positions 11–18 in the Nottingham ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | The Oakwood Academy | 26.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Farnborough Spencer Academy | 21.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | Nottingham Academy | 17.1 | Requires improvement | All-through |
| 14 | Ellis Guilford School | 16.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | Bluecoat Beechdale Academy | 12 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Djanogly City Academy | 11 | Good | Secondary |
| 17 | The Wells Academy | 10.2 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 18 | The Bulwell Academy | 4.3 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
Keep exploring Nottingham
Questions about secondary schools in Nottingham
What is the best secondary school in Nottingham?
Nottingham Free School is the top-ranked secondary school in Nottingham (LocaleIQ score 87.7 out of 100). Ofsted: Good. Attainment 8 51.5. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Nottingham secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Nottingham?
Edna G. Olds Academy tops the Nottingham primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 98.5). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 86% · higher 21%. See the full primary school ranking for Nottingham for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Nottingham have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Nottingham: Nottingham Free School (Attainment 8 51.5); Bluecoat Wollaton Academy (Attainment 8 49.4); Nottingham Girls' Academy (Attainment 8 47.7). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Nottingham are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
3 secondary schools in the Nottingham ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Bluecoat Wollaton Academy, Nottingham Girls' Academy, Fernwood School. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Nottingham?
This ranking covers 18 secondary schools in the Nottingham comparison pool. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Nottingham has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, NG8 has the strongest cluster — 65.3 average across 7 ranked secondary schools. NG6 sits at the lower end (10.6 average). Nottingham school decisions need sector discipline because student corridors skew perceptions. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.