Nottingham Free School is a mainstream secondary school in Nottingham for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 75 of its 699 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 17 (2.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 699 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Nottingham.
10.7% get SEN support
75 of 699 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.4% have an EHC plan
17 of 699 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism29
- Social, emotional and mental health23
- Moderate learning difficulty11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
- Speech, language and communication9
- Physical disability5
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 699 (places for 626)
- Headteacher
- Dr Jo Simpson (Head of School)
- Part of
- Nova Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Nottingham
- School reference (URN)
- 141010
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 Good, June 2017; school remains Good (November 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
The Courtaulds Building, 290 Haydn Road, Nottingham, NG5 1EB
Loading the map…
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
- Whitemoor Academy (Primary and Nursery) Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Mellers Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Sutherland House School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- Rosehill School Special school · Ages 4–19 1.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Claremont Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.4 miles
- Djanogly Sherwood Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.4 miles
- Haydn Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.8%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Nottingham SEND schools in Nottingham
Questions about Nottingham Free School
How many pupils at Nottingham Free School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 75 of the 699 pupils (10.7%) were getting SEN support and 17 (2.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Nottingham Free School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (29 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (23 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (11 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Nottingham Free 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 Nottingham Free 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 Nottingham Free School?
You can ask for Nottingham Free 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 Nottingham Free 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 Whitemoor Academy (Primary and Nursery), about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Nottingham Free School?
The Courtaulds Building, 290 Haydn Road, Nottingham, NG5 1EB, 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.