Toot Hill School: High Progress Comprehensive with Outstanding Sixth Form

In the heart of the Nottinghamshire market town of Bingham, Toot Hill School has been serving local families since 1969. The school combines strong GCSE outcomes with an Outstanding-rated sixth form, placing it among the top 15% of secondary schools in England for GCSE performance. Progress is equally impressive. With a Progress 8 score of +0.40, students here make significantly more progress than would be expected based on their starting points. The school's ethos of belonging, excellence, and opportunity runs through everything from the academic curriculum to the extensive enrichment programme.

The culture at Toot Hill is captured in its core mantra: Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Pride. This is not simply a slogan on a wall. The November 2022 Ofsted inspection found that most pupils enjoy school and feel safe, with respectful conduct evident throughout the school day.

Dr Chris Eardley leads the school as Headteacher, bringing academic credentials that include a PhD alongside his teaching qualifications. Under his leadership, Toot Hill has maintained its reputation as one of the strongest state schools in the East Midlands. The school is the founder member of the Nova Education Trust, a growing multi-academy trust that draws on Toot Hill's established practices.

The campus occupies a substantial site on The Banks, serving approximately 1,900 students across Years 7 to 13. Buildings have evolved since 1969, including recovery from an arson attack in 1989 that destroyed six classrooms. Today, facilities include a drama theatre used for regular productions, the Learning Lounge library space, and a sports centre that opens to the community outside school hours.

Personal development stands out as a particular strength. The most recent inspection rated this area Outstanding, noting rich opportunities for pupils to grow as individuals. The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme runs through to Gold level, and student leadership initiatives give young people genuine responsibility. Subject societies in the sixth form encourage intellectual curiosity beyond examination requirements.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes place Toot Hill firmly above England average. The school ranks 670th in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it within the top 15% of secondary schools. Locally, it ranks 6th in the Nottingham area.

The Attainment 8 score of 56.9 significantly exceeds the England average of 45.9. This broad measure across eight qualifications demonstrates consistently strong performance rather than isolated pockets of success. Some 39.5% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate subjects, reflecting a genuinely academic intake progressing through a rigorous curriculum.

Progress 8 tells an equally compelling story. The +0.40 score indicates that pupils make well above average progress from their starting points. This places Toot Hill in the top 2% of schools nationally for pupil progress, a statistic the school rightfully highlights. Strong results are not simply the product of advantaged intakes; value is being added throughout the five years of secondary education.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form, operating as Toot Hill College, achieved Outstanding status in the 2022 inspection. Results in 2024 saw 23% of grades at A* to A, with 59.3% at A* to B. This exceeds the England average of 47.2% for A* to B grades.

The school ranks 734th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the top 28% of sixth forms. While not elite territory, this represents solid outcomes from a comprehensive intake. The sixth form maintains diverse course availability despite occasionally small cohorts in some subjects, a commitment that inspection reports specifically praised.

The curriculum is broad and balanced, covering academic subjects from Mathematics and English through to Business, Economics, and Social Sciences. Languages, the humanities, and creative subjects all feature prominently. Design and Technology, Computing, Drama, and Media Studies extend options beyond traditional disciplines.

Teaching follows the philosophy of powerful knowledge, a concept the school actively promotes. Staff are described as subject experts, and the curriculum is sequenced to build understanding progressively. The inspection found that pupils produce high-quality work during lessons, with clear evidence of learning taking place.

Sixth form teaching earned particular praise. The motto Sapere Aude (Dare to Know) captures the college's philosophy of intellectual curiosity. Students are encouraged to explore beyond their A-level specifications through the Extended Project Qualification and subject-specific societies. Core Maths offers an additional qualification for those not taking A-level Mathematics but wanting to maintain quantitative skills.

In 2024, 57% of Toot Hill leavers progressed to university. A further 6% started apprenticeships, with the school noting that apprenticeship applications reached record levels. Some 24% moved directly into employment.

The school has a genuine track record of supporting applications to competitive courses. In 2024, four students secured places to study medicine at Cardiff, Glasgow, and other universities. One student gained a place at Cambridge, from a cohort of 19 Oxbridge applicants.

Named destinations from the 2024 cohort include the University of Exeter, University of Manchester, University of Leeds, and University of Birmingham. These reflect the solid Russell Group pipeline that a school of this calibre produces. Degree apprenticeships represent an increasingly popular alternative pathway, with dedicated support available for students exploring this route.

The school actively builds relationships with its alumni. Joe Heyes, a former pupil who went on to play for Leicester Tigers and was called up to the England rugby training squad, exemplifies the range of pathways available. Regular alumni events bring former students back to inspire current cohorts.

Toot Hill School participates in Nottinghamshire County Council's coordinated admissions scheme. Applications for Year 7 entry are made through the local authority rather than directly to the school. The deadline is 31 October preceding the September start, with National Offer Day on 1 March.

The school is oversubscribed. Data from the most recent admissions round shows 544 applications for 231 places, a subscription ratio of 2.35 applications per place. This makes securing entry competitive, though not impossibly so for families within the catchment area.

Eleven designated feeder primary schools feed into Toot Hill, including Robert Miles Junior, Langar Church of England Primary, and St Peter's Church of England Primary. Students from these schools receive enhanced transition support including summer term visits to experience lessons, welcome evenings to meet tutors, and a dedicated Year 7 parents evening in the autumn term.

A catchment map is published on the school website, clarifying which addresses fall within the priority zone. Families living outside Nottinghamshire should apply through their home local authority. In-year admissions are handled when places become available.

Open evenings run annually for both primary school families and prospective sixth form students. Beyond these set events, the school welcomes daytime tours by appointment. Contact the school office on 01949 875 550 to arrange a visit.

The school places student wellbeing at the heart of its approach. A Personal Development Curriculum runs through all year groups, tailored to age-appropriate content. Relationships, sex, and health education is delivered systematically rather than sporadically.

Behaviour is managed through clear expectations. The Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Pride framework provides a consistent vocabulary that staff and students share. The inspection found that bullying is dealt with effectively when identified, and respectful conduct is the norm.

One caveat emerged from the inspection. Some pupils reported that sanctions for lateness or incorrect uniform were not always applied consistently or reasonably across the school. This suggests variation in implementation rather than a systemic concern, but families should be aware of occasional friction points.

The school holds the Healthy Schools designation and is a National Online Safety Certified School, reflecting attention to modern wellbeing concerns including digital safety.

Sport

Sport at Toot Hill operates at both recreational and elite levels. The school was ranked 50th in the country by School Sports Magazine, a remarkable achievement given the pandemic disruptions that preceded the ranking year.

Facilities include a multi-use games area, athletics track, indoor sports hall, and outdoor pitches. The Toot Hill Sports Centre, managed in partnership with Lex Leisure and Rushcliffe Borough Council, opens to the community outside school hours. This arrangement brings professional-quality facilities that benefit students during the school day.

Competitive success is genuine. The Year 8 girls hockey team won the National state school seven-a-side competition at Nottingham Hockey Club. The girls football team won the Nottinghamshire County Cup, defeating Southwell Minster 3-0 in the final. Cross country runners have reached national finals, with the inter boys team finishing 19th nationally.

Football, rugby, cricket, table tennis, netball, and athletics all feature in the regular offering. A school minibus, acquired recently with multiple staff trained to drive it, extends the reach of fixture participation.

STEM

STEM Pathways form a distinctive strand of the enrichment programme. Activities have included space-themed design challenges and field trips that connect classroom learning to real-world applications. The school holds the NCCE Computing Quality Mark, recognising quality in computer science education.

Creative Arts

Drama productions take place in the school's dedicated theatre space. Recent productions have included The Wardrobe. The creative arts curriculum spans Drama, Music, Art and Design, and Media Studies, offering multiple routes for students with artistic inclinations.

Leadership and Enrichment

The Duke of Edinburgh Award runs through Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Level 2 Sports Leadership provides a vocational qualification for those interested in coaching and physical education careers. Student Voice initiatives give pupils genuine input into school decisions, and the sixth form Student Union operates with elected leadership.

The school day runs from approximately 8:40am to 3:10pm. School buses operate on published timetables, serving the rural catchment around Bingham. The canteen provides hot and cold food options, with menus published online. The MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) system gives parents real-time access to attendance, behaviour, and progress data.

Transport links suit the semi-rural location. Bingham is approximately 10 miles east of Nottingham city centre, accessible by road and bus services. The town itself offers a market-town atmosphere with independent shops and local amenities.

Oversubscribed admissions. With 2.35 applications per place, entry is competitive. Families outside the feeder school network or catchment area may find securing a place challenging. Check the published catchment map carefully before making assumptions about eligibility.

Consistency of sanction application. The inspection noted that some pupils felt sanctions for minor issues like lateness or uniform were applied inconsistently. This may frustrate students who perceive unfairness, though it does not indicate serious behaviour concerns.

Rural location. Bingham is a small market town rather than a major urban centre. Students travelling from outside the immediate area will need to factor in commute times. The school bus network helps, but flexibility is limited for those living beyond its routes.

Sixth form size. While the sixth form earned Outstanding status, some A-level subjects run with small cohorts. This can limit peer discussion and occasionally affects timetabling. The school maintains diverse offerings despite this, but popular subjects will have larger, more dynamic classes than niche options.

Toot Hill School delivers comprehensive education with genuine academic ambition. GCSE results place it firmly in the top 15% of England schools, while Progress 8 data suggests exceptional value-added from whatever starting point students arrive with. The Outstanding-rated sixth form provides a natural progression route with strong university and apprenticeship outcomes.

Best suited to families in the Bingham area who want a school that combines academic rigour with broad personal development opportunities. The emphasis on Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Pride creates clear expectations without oppressive formality. Sporting success at regional and national level adds another dimension for athletically inclined students.

The main challenge is securing a place. Oversubscription means living within catchment or attending a feeder school significantly improves chances. For those who gain entry, this is a state school performing at levels that rival many fee-paying alternatives.