Carlton le Willows Academy Review 2026: Large secondary with sixth form, rebuilding confidence after an Inadequate judgement

This school’s most usable, current-style indicators are GCSE measures. Attainment 8 is 50.8, which is a solid centre-of-gravity score across eight subjects, and Progress 8 is +0.49, which indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points across the GCSE basket.

In the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite, the average point score is 4.3. For families thinking about the balance of academic breadth, EBacc points are a useful sense-check, because they reflect performance across the core academic subjects taken together, rather than one department at a time.

Sixth form grade breakdown is not available for this school, so it is sensible to judge post-16 largely by curriculum fit, teaching stability, and destinations support, rather than headline A-level percentages alone.

Parents comparing local schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to line up Progress 8, Attainment 8, and curriculum indicators side-by-side, rather than relying on reputation.

The sixth form curriculum offer includes both A-level and applied routes, with a long subject list that signals decent breadth. Examples on the published list include Computer Science, Law, Economics, Further Maths, Drama and Theatre Studies, Photography, and Textiles.

At post-16, entry requirements are stated as at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English Language and Maths, plus subject-specific requirements by course. The best fit tends to be students who want a clear programme with transparent thresholds, and who are realistic about matching subject choices to prior attainment.

Where Students Go Next

The school has a sixth form and, in the latest Oxbridge measurement period there were three Oxford and Cambridge applications combined, with one offer and one acceptance, recorded under Cambridge.

Destination percentages for university, apprenticeships, employment, and further education are not available for this school, so families should treat destinations as an area to explore directly through sixth form guidance, tutor support, and course choices, rather than expecting a published headline split.

Year 7 applications follow the Nottinghamshire coordinated admissions timetable. For September 2026 entry, applications open from 4 August 2025 and the national closing date is 31 October 2025, with National Offer Day on 2 March 2026.

The school’s own admissions policy for 2026 to 27 sets a published admission number of 360 for Year 7 in September 2026.

If you are trying to judge whether proximity is likely to matter in practice, the most reliable approach is to use FindMySchool Map Search to check your exact home-to-gates distance. This is especially important in years where local demand rises, because allocation patterns can shift noticeably year to year.

For many families, pastoral confidence is the decisive factor when a school is in an improvement phase. The sensible approach is to focus on concrete operating details: how behaviour expectations are taught and reinforced, how attendance is monitored, how bullying reports are handled, and how quickly issues are escalated to a form tutor, head of year, or senior leader.

On SEND, the school publishes a SEND policy and information report, which is often the quickest way for parents to see what support looks like day-to-day and how referrals work.

Enrichment is structured and published as a timetable, which is a helpful sign for families because it turns “there are clubs” into something you can plan around.

Specific examples from the 2025 to 26 enrichment timetable include a Warhammer Club, Lego Robotics, Maths Circles (invite only), an LGBTQ+ Cafe, and scheduled basketball sessions, alongside table tennis sessions branded as Ping Pass.

A distinctive facility is the on-site Table Tennis Centre, described as national standard and used for competition and national team training as well as school sport. For students who need a clear extracurricular “home” to feel connected, a recognisable programme like this can be a real anchor.

The published school day runs 08:25 to 14:30. Families should factor that earlier finish into transport and after-school arrangements, particularly for younger students in Year 7 and Year 8.

Admissions for Year 7 are handled through the local authority application route.

• Inspection context and consistency. The most recent full inspection outcome was Inadequate, and families should focus on whether teaching expectations and behaviour routines now feel consistent across subjects, not just strong in pockets.

• A large-school experience. With a large roll and high capacity, some students thrive on the breadth; others do better in smaller settings where they are known by fewer staff but more intensely.

• Shorter on-site day. A 14:30 finish can be a plus for some households and a challenge for others; it is worth checking how enrichment and supervision work after the final bell.

This is a broad, high-capacity secondary with a real sixth form offer and some distinctive enrichment, including a specialist table tennis facility and a published clubs timetable. The key question for 2026 entry is confidence in consistent day-to-day experience while the school rebuilds momentum after an Inadequate judgement. Best suited to families who want a large, comprehensive-style setting with wide options and who will actively engage with open events, pastoral communication, and the details of behaviour and attendance expectations.