Sitting on a commanding hill in Arnold, Redhill Academy is the mothership of the Redhill Academy Trust, a position that grants it both prestige and resources. This is a large, confident comprehensive that serves as the blueprint for the trust's wider network. With over 1,500 students, it feels bustling and purposeful, combining the scale of a college with the structures of a traditional school. Fresh from an Outstanding inspection in May 2024, the school remains a dominant force in local education, consistently attracting significantly more applications than there are places.
The first thing visitors notice is the "Redhill way" of doing things; there is a tangible sense of order here. The campus has seen significant investment, evolving from its 1950s roots into a mix of purpose-built blocks and refurbished spaces. The atmosphere is academic rather than relaxed. Students move quickly between lessons in their black blazers with the distinctive crest.
Mr Mike Hardy, the Headteacher, leads with a clear focus on high expectations. As the lead school in the trust, Redhill often pilots new initiatives before they roll out elsewhere, giving students access to the latest thinking in curriculum and pastoral support. The ethos is built on high achievement and "Faith and Industry" (the historic motto), values that are visible in the rewards system and the rigorous assembly programme.
The sheer size of the school allows for designated zones. The Science Centre and the specialist Performing Arts facilities are standouts, providing resources that smaller schools simply cannot match. However, the scale also means this is not a place for those who want to hide; it requires students to step up and manage a busy, dynamic environment.
Academic outcomes at Redhill Academy are solid, placing the school comfortably above the England average for student progress.
In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.17. This positive figure indicates that students at Redhill make more progress from their primary school starting points than similar students across England.
The attainment data tells a consistent story. The Average Attainment 8 score stood at 50.0, compared to the England average of 45.9. In the core subjects, 26% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of qualifications.
The school ranks 1196th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool proprietary ranking). This performance sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), reflecting a reliable academic standard that serves the local community well.
Post-16 performance follows a similar pattern. The sixth form ranks 1418th in England for A-level outcomes. In 2024, 43% of grades were A*-B, with nearly 6% at the highest A* grade. While these figures are "national typical" in our banding system, they represent solid achievement for a large, inclusive sixth form.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
43.46%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum is broad and follows the National Curriculum closely, but with the specific flavour of the Redhill Trust's "knowledge-rich" approach. Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) retains breadth, ensuring students study Art, Drama, Music, and Technology before narrowing their choices.
Lessons follow a structured pattern. Teachers often use consistent retrieval practice activities to start lessons, ensuring a calm entry and immediate focus. The teaching style tends to be direct and explicit; staff are experts in their subjects and lead the learning from the front.
Streamed sets are introduced early in Mathematics and Science, allowing teaching to be pitched at the appropriate pace. Support for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is coordinated through the learning support teams, though in a large mainstream setting, students are encouraged to develop independence quickly.
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
The school has a strong culture of university progression. In 2024, 60% of Year 13 leavers moved on to university education.
The Destinations data highlights a commitment to aspirational paths. In the most recent cycle, 15 students applied to Oxbridge, with one securing a place. This pipeline to elite universities is supported by the trust's enrichment programmes, which provide additional mentoring and mock interview practice.
For those not pursuing university, the school has robust links with local industry. 7% of leavers secured apprenticeships, while 17% moved directly into employment. The school’s careers advisor works closely with students from Year 10 onwards to map out these alternative routes.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 6.7%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
Getting into Redhill Academy is a significant challenge. Admissions are coordinated by Nottinghamshire County Council, and the school is heavily oversubscribed.
In the most recent intake, there were 953 applications for just 268 places. This results in a subscription ratio of approximately 3.5 applications per place.
The catchment area is the primary determinant for allocation, alongside a specific criterion for Performing Arts aptitude (up to 10% of places). The school serves the Arnold and Redhill localities, and families living within the catchment priority area have the best chance of securing a place.
Parents should check the precise catchment boundaries on the Nottinghamshire County Council mapping tool. For those living outside the catchment, places are allocated by distance, but in practice, the catchment demand often fills the school.
Applications
953
Total received
Places Offered
268
Subscription Rate
3.6x
Apps per place
Pastoral care is organised through a House system, which breaks the large school down into more manageable communities. Each student belongs to a House (Cavendish, Hunloke, Kenning, etc.) and a tutor group. This structure helps students to be known individually despite the large roll.
The "House Office" is the first port of call for parents. Non-teaching pastoral leaders are available throughout the day to deal with issues, meaning teachers are not pulled out of lessons to handle pastoral crises.
Bullying is taken seriously. The school uses an electronic reporting system that allows students to report concerns discreetly. Parents generally report that issues are dealt with swiftly, though the size of the school means students need to be proactive in seeking support.
The extracurricular offer is extensive, leveraging the trust's scale to run activities that smaller schools could not sustain.
Sport is a major pillar of life at Redhill. The leisure centre on site includes a large sports hall, fitness suite, and all-weather pitches. The school fields teams in football, netball, rugby, and athletics, competing successfully in county and city leagues. The annual Sports Awards Evening is a highlight of the calendar.
Performing Arts are a specialism here. The school puts on major productions; recent years have seen ambitious stagings of musicals that involve over 100 students. The Music department runs a choir, orchestra, and jazz band, with regular concerts in the main hall.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with large cohorts completing Bronze and Silver awards. The trust also organises "activity days" and residential trips, including ski trips and visits to battlefields, which are eagerly anticipated.
The school is well-served by local bus routes from Nottingham and surrounding villages. The sheer volume of students means buses can be crowded.
Strict. Black blazer with red crest, house tie, black trousers/skirt. The school enforces the policy rigorously; correct footwear is non-negotiable.
The canteen operates a cashless system. Food options are varied, but queues can be long due to student numbers.
Scale and size. This is a big school with over 1,500 students. While the House system mitigates this, it can still feel overwhelming for quieter children. Students need to be reasonably robust and organised to navigate the site and the timetable.
The Trust influence. As the flagship, Redhill embodies the trust’s corporate identity. Families who prefer a quirky, individualistic school might find the standardised policies and "corporate" feel a little impersonal. Conversely, many parents love the consistency and professionalism this brings.
Traffic and access. The location in residential Arnold means the "school run" creates significant congestion. Redhill Road becomes a bottleneck at 8:30am and 3:10pm. Families are strongly encouraged to use buses or walk where possible.
Selection by Aptitude. Unlike most local comprehensives, Redhill selects up to 10% of its intake based on aptitude in the Performing Arts. This offers a specific route in for talented musicians and actors living outside the immediate catchment.
Redhill Academy remains a powerhouse in Nottinghamshire education. It offers a reliable, structured, and high-quality education with excellent facilities. It suits aspirational families who want a school with a "grammar school" work ethic in a comprehensive setting. The main challenge is securing a place; for those who do, it provides a strong platform for both university and employment.
Yes. Redhill Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2024. Inspectors praised the school's high expectations and the quality of education. Recent performance data confirms this, with a positive Progress 8 score of +0.17 in 2024.
Yes, heavily. In the most recent intake, there were 953 applications for 268 places, a ratio of roughly 3.5 applications per place. Families living outside the catchment area often struggle to secure a place unless they qualify for the Performing Arts aptitude criteria.
Results are solid. In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.0 (England average: 45.9). Nearly 26% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in the full EBacc suite. The school ranks in the top 40% of schools in England for overall GCSE performance.
Yes. The Sixth Form is large and successful, offering a wide range of A-levels and BTECs. In 2024, 43% of A-level grades were A*-B. The majority of Year 11 students choose to stay on, and they are joined by external applicants from other local schools.
Students are placed into one of the Houses (e.g., Cavendish, Hunloke). Tutor groups help students settle in, and House competitions run throughout the year in sport and arts.
You can still apply, but you will be lower down the priority list than those living within the catchment. However, up to 10% of places are reserved for students demonstrating aptitude in Performing Arts, which is a potential route for those outside the area. It is vital to use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check your likelihood of entry.
Get in touch with the school directly
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