Fernwood School is a mainstream secondary school in Nottingham for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 144 of its 1,543 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 20 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,543 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Nottingham.
9.3% get SEN support
144 of 1,543 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
20 of 1,543 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism38
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Speech, language and communication8
- Physical disability7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,543 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Mr Christopher Gell
- Part of
- The Fernwood Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 18.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Nottingham
- School reference (URN)
- 136724
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Nottingham council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, March 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2FT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Fernwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Silver Linings School Independent · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Oak Field School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.9 miles
- Bluecoat Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Firbeck Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 11%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.5 miles
- Portland Spencer Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.2%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.7 miles
- Nottingham University Samworth Academy Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 12.1%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Nottingham SEND schools in Nottingham
Questions about Fernwood School
How many pupils at Fernwood School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 144 of the 1,543 pupils (9.3%) were getting SEN support and 20 (1.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Fernwood School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (38 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Fernwood School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Fernwood School?
Through Nottingham council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Fernwood School?
You can ask for Fernwood School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Fernwood School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Fernwood Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Fernwood School?
Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2FT, in Nottingham.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.