Ellis Guilford School

Ellis Guilford School has made significant strides since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good'. The school fosters a strong sense of belonging among its pupils, who learn in a calm and supportive environment. High expectations from leaders and staff are evident, and most pupils exhibit commendable behavior. The curriculum is broad and engaging, with effective support for those who need it, especially students with special educational needs. However, the school acknowledges the need for further improvement in pupil conduct during transitions and student engagement in discussions during lessons.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe, cared for, and enjoy their school environment.
• Leaders and staff have high expectations for all pupils.
• The curriculum is broad and reflects a wide range of subjects.
• High-quality pastoral care supports students’ mental health and well-being.
• Pupils have access to a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not consistently meet behavior expectations during transitions.
• Teachers need to provide more opportunities for pupils to discuss their learning.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ellis Guilford School attended 90.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 29.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 16.0% of pupils at Ellis Guilford School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 23 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ellis Guilford School had 22.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 30.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.1% of pupils at Ellis Guilford School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ellis Guilford School received £8,754 and spent £8,748 for each of its 1,257 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £903,000 (£719 per pupil).

Across all 17 schools of Creative Education Trust, income was £8,557 and spending £8,500 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Nottingham · Nottingham local authority: places and applications

Ellis Guilford School is part of Creative Education Trust, which runs 17 schools. The nearest others:

• The Bulwell Academy Nottingham
• Three Peaks Primary Academy Tamworth
• The Hart School Rugeley
• Ash Green School Coventry
• Thistley Hough Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Harpfield Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• Weavers Academy Wellingborough
• Wrenn School Wellingborough
• Queen Eleanor Primary Academy Northampton
• Abbeyfield School Northampton

What is Ellis Guilford School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ellis Guilford School is Good, from an inspection in August 2023.

When was Ellis Guilford School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ellis Guilford School was last inspected in August 2023.

How many pupils does Ellis Guilford School have?

Ellis Guilford School has 1,171 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ellis Guilford School cover?

Ellis Guilford School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Ellis Guilford School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 39.5, and 31% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Ellis Guilford School?

Ellis Guilford School is at Bar Lane, Basford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG6 0HT.