SchoolScoresThe Wells Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of GREENWOOD ACADEMIES TRUST
Ransom Drive, Nottingham, NG3 5LR
0115 748 3390 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 13 January 2026 , published 16 March 2026.
In short: 6 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 87% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 78% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 84% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 96% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 87% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND Higher than 98% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 89% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
144 pupils in this year group.
35% — 5 points below the Nottingham average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Nottingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 40% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 43.1 | 43 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
126 pupils in this year group.
86% — 2 points below the Nottingham average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Nottingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 21% | 27% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 9% | 14% | 13% |
| Further education college | 55% | 42% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Nottingham. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 71 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 44 |
| Of those, offered a place | 44 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 102 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Nottingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 50.9% | 43.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 38.4% | 34.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 63% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 8.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.4% | 24.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 30% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 25.1 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 10.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded12 pupils | 1.70% | 0.61% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 11% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.5 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 15th highest of 18 state secondary schools in Nottingham. Higher than 28% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 15.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Jamia Al-Hudaa Residential College 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Carlton Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bluecoat Trent Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Hollygirt School 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Nottingham Free School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- Fuel 1.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Nottingham Girls' High School GDST 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 48% A*/A at A level
- Arnold Hill Spencer Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- Nottingham High School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 72% A*/A at A level
- Djanogly City Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Wells Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Wells Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 13 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Wells Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Wells Academy?
96% of the 79 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Wells Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Wells Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 44 families put The Wells Academy as their first choice for 71 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 44 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147456.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.