In just 10 weeks time, thousands of Year 11 students across Nottinghamshire will take the next step in their educational journeys by sitting their GCSE exams.
The 2026 GCSE season starts on Monday, May 4 and ends on Friday, June 26, with many students due to sit over a dozen exams over that seven-week period.
Each year, following the end of the GCSE season, the Department of Education produces a league table showing the performance of every secondary school across the country.
Schools’ GCSE performance is assessed in several different ways, the main one being Attainment 8.
Attainment 8 is calculated by adding together pupils’ highest scores from eight government-approved GCSE subjects.
It provides a total point score (maximum 90) based on specific subject ‘buckets’ to assess how well schools are teaching a broad curriculum.
With the start of the 2026 GCSE season just over two months away, we’ve taken a look at the best-performing Nottinghamshire secondary schools as we head into 2026, based on their most recent Attainment 8 scores.
Take a look at the gallery below to see the 15 schools in Nottinghamshire with the top performance.
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9. The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form
In the 2024/25 school year, The South Wolds Academy & Sixth Form had an Attainment 8 score of 53.4 - compared to a national average of 45.9 | Google Photo: Google
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10. All Saints' Catholic Voluntary Academy
In the 2024/25 school year, All Saints' Catholic Voluntary Academy had an Attainment 8 score of 51.6 - compared to a national average of 45.9 | Google Photo: Google
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11. South Nottinghamshire Academy
In the 2024/25 school year, South Nottinghamshire Academy had an Attainment 8 score of 51.6 - compared to a national average of 45.9 | Google Photo: Google
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12. George Spencer Academy
In the 2024/25 school year, George Spencer Academy had an Attainment 8 score of 51.5 - compared to a national average of 45.9 | Google Photo: Google