The Wells Academy
Nottingham, NG3 5LR · Nottingham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th of 19 secondary schools in Nottingham we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.7/10 against 399 of them, against 0.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 16 | 35% | 0.55 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 27.4 · 11 | 30% | 0.32 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.95 · 4 | 25% | 0.09 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.7 · 14 | 10% | 0.14 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Wells Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 34.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.95 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 634 pupils against a stated capacity of 800. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students starting from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework affect the current teaching and learning priorities?
What Ofsted said about The Wells Academy
Overview
The Wells Academy fulfils the expected standard of education, with leaders having galvanised the school to make "substantial improvements" over recent years. Pupils achieve well from their starting points and are "well prepared to take positive next steps," benefiting from a "warm strict" culture and high-quality teaching.
Strengths
- The curriculum is well-organised, allowing pupils to "build knowledge over time" and revisit material to aid long-term retention.
- Attendance has improved significantly, with leaders "systematically identify[ing] and remov[ing] any barriers" to school attendance.
- Behaviour is orderly and focused, with incidents of unacceptable behaviour "rarely repeated" and pupils demonstrating respect for one another.
- Staff morale is high due to a "research-informed professional learning programme" that supports effective teaching practices.
- Inclusion is strong, with a "holistic approach" ensuring pupils with diverse needs are supported academically, emotionally, and socially.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching adaptations are "sufficiently precise" so that pupils needing support with foundational knowledge achieve well across the curriculum.
- The enrichment offer requires further development, specifically to increase opportunities for pupils to "learn beyond the classroom, such as educational visits."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.2 |
| 2024/25 | 43.1 |
| 2025/26 | 38.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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