Alderman White School
Academy converter · 768 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.6
Academy sponsor led
Retford Oaks Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,080of 1,295 places
- Free school meals
- 33.1%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 192
- Ofsted
- School remains Good, 11 May 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Retford Oaks High School (URN 133703, until 1 April 2012).
What the data says
Of the 188 pupils who finished Year 11 at Retford Oaks Academy in 2023, 34% stayed on in Retford Oaks Academy’s own sixth form (Nottinghamshire average 36%), 35% went to a further education college and 5% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 45 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 38% went to university (Nottinghamshire 40%, England 37%), and 2% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 40.1 against 46.1 across England and 46.8 in Nottinghamshire, with 29% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C-, well below the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Business Studies, Sociology and Psychology.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Nottinghamshire and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Retford Oaks Academy | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 188 | 8,955 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 85% | 92% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 77% | 84% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 34% | 36% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 7% | 4% | 13% |
| — further education college | 35% | 42% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Retford Oaks Academy | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 45 | 5,147 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 82% | 84% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 38% | 40% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 2% | 23% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 10% | 7% |
| Employment | 36% | 29% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 13% | 13% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Retford Oaks Academy | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 40.1 | 46.8 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 29% | 47% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 53% | 68% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 12% | 39% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.22 | 4.15 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 29% | 24% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 32.2 | 33.9 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 43.3 | 50.8 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 6% | 10% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 191 | 99% | 89% | 10% | 20% | 59% |
| Mathematics | 190 | 99% | 88% | 7% | 22% | 64% |
| English Literature | 188 | 98% | 86% | 5% | 21% | 55% |
| Combined Science | 116 | 60% | 65% | 3% | 9% | 45% |
| Religious Studies | 95 | 49% | 31% | 9% | 32% | 67% |
| Chemistry | 71 | 37% | 23% | 13% | 47% | 58% |
| Physics | 71 | 37% | 23% | 6% | 46% | 61% |
| Biology | 71 | 37% | 23% | 13% | 45% | 63% |
| Geography | 71 | 37% | 41% | 8% | 25% | 48% |
| History | 63 | 33% | 41% | 14% | 26% | 62% |
| Psychology | 46 | 24% | 3% | 20% | 22% | 61% |
| Computer Science | 30 | 16% | 13% | 0% | 30% | 20% |
| Media Studies | 26 | 14% | 4% | 0% | 20% | 50% |
| Fine Art | 25 | 13% | 9% | 16% | 28% | 72% |
| Sociology | 21 | 11% | 4% | 10% | 21% | 43% |
| Photography | 21 | 11% | 6% | 14% | 19% | 67% |
| Spanish | 20 | 10% | 19% | 20% | 27% | 60% |
| 3D Design | 17 | 9% | 2% | 12% | 16% | 53% |
| Drama | 10 | 5% | 7% | 30% | 27% | 100% |
| French | 10 | 5% | 18% | 20% | 29% | 90% |
| Dance | 9 | 5% | 1% | 22% | 27% | 56% |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | 69 | 100% | — |
| Small Business Management | 54 | 100% | — |
| Health Studies | 35 | 70% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 27 | 54% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 26 | 52% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 15 | 30% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 14 | 28% | — |
| Beauty Care / Services | 11 | 22% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 10 | 20% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 8 | 16% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Retford Oaks Academy | Nottinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 80 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 50 | 3,226 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C- | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 27.11 | 34.65 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 21% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | 19 | 38% | 13% |
| Sociology | 15 | 30% | 13% |
| Psychology | 10 | 20% | 23% |
| Biology | 9 | 18% | 20% |
| Mathematics | 8 | 16% | 31% |
| Media Studies | 7 | 14% | 4% |
| English Literature | 7 | 14% | 11% |
| Chemistry | 7 | 14% | 17% |
| Law | 6 | 12% | 4% |
| English Language | 6 | 12% | 4% |
| History | 6 | 12% | 13% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 17 | 34% | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (All) | 11 | 22% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 10 | 20% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 16% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 8 | 16% | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | 7 | 14% | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Biology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Sociology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Nottinghamshire
All Saints' Catholic Voluntary Academy
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84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.6
Arnold Hill Spencer Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,552 pupils
85% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.8
Ashfield Comprehensive School
Academy converter · sixth form · 2,601 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.8
Bramcote College
Academy converter · sixth form · 816 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.3
Carlton Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,354 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.1
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.