The school began in September 2002 and had been using the old Wilford Meadows building until the arrival of its completed "new build" in late 2008. The first 6th-form students began their
A-Level courses in September 2007. In 2000 a project group was established to plan a programme of consultation, including a range of feasibility studies. There was very strong support from parents for the development of another church school and this proposal was also supported nationally through the recommendations made in the
Dearing Report for new
Church Aided Schools to be established. In 2001 a temporary governing body was convened to set up the school. The Nottingham Emmanuel School was so named because it reflects faith in God. The governors realised that a specifically Christian spiritual ethos in which other faith traditions were hosted within an
Anglican framework was crucial to the overall purpose. This is reflected in the School's admission policy. The school celebrated its official opening in 2002 with 180 students, and is now full in years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. In September 2006 the school welcomed its fifth year of intake, and this meant students for the first time were entered for public examinations at key stage 4. The school has a planned full size of 1150 students, including the sixth form in 2008–09. The school converted to academy status on 1 June 2013.
Grammar school The true origins of the school, in a convoluted and chequered history, start with the
Mundella Grammar School, on
Colygate Road in the Meadows, which opened in 1899. The school's name came from
Anthony John Mundella, a Liberal MP for
Sheffield, and
Sheffield Brightside.
World War II In September 1939 153 boys were evacuated to
Stamford School, and 117 girls to
Stamford High School. The boys and girls travelled by train on 5 September 1939. Some were confirmed by the
Bishop of Lincoln at
St Mary's Church on 7 December 1939. The group returned by train on 12 March 1940, but Nottingham had not been bombed. The
Nottingham Blitz was on 8 May 1941.
Comprehensive The school became comprehensive in the 1970s, keeping its former name. These school buildings were demolished in 1985. The school transferred to the Roland Green Comprehensive School, which became the Wilford Meadows School. Owing to its low results, this school was closed, and re-opened as the Nottingham Emmanuel School. ==Academic performance==