Aylsham High School

Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of The Aylsham Cluster Trust

Sir Williams Lane, Aylsham, Norwich, NR11 6AN

01263 733270 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 15 October 2014; confirmed 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths41%England 45% · 2024/25
17th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 43% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,138Room for 1,025 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,065 in 2019, 1,089 in 2021, 1,099 in 2022, 1,145 in 2023, 1,118 in 2024, 1,108 in 2025, 1,138 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1245 for 229 places, September 2026
4th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 71% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 October 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 31 January 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

168 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

Norwich comparisons use the 11 of its 23 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 12 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolNorwichEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 4th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 82% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 86% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 65 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 62% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
54% 48% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 128 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 67% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 70% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich.
Higher than 73% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88%said yes 78% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Norwich figures pool parents at the Norwich schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

202 pupils in this year group.

41% — 4 points below the Norfolk average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 41% 45% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 45 45.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 59%This school 2023/24: 51%This school 2024/25: 41% This school England 45% 2022/23 59% 2023/24 51% 2024/25 41%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

224 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Norfolk average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 91% 92% 92%
School sixth form 31% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 7% 13%
Further education college 50% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 4% 3%
Work 2% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%91%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Norfolk. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered229
Families who put it first245
Of those, offered a place229 (93%)
Families who listed it at all389

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Norfolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
17th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
19.8% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.9% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
23rd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 2% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.4% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
14th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Lower than 30% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.6% 8.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 22 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
23.6% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Lower than 90% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.0 21.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Lower than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.3% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.18% 0.32% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 89% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
19.1 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
17th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.1 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
13th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Norwich.
Higher than 14% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 11.8%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Questions parents ask

What is Aylsham High School's Ofsted rating?

Aylsham High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 October 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 31 January 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Aylsham High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 41% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Aylsham High School?

88% of the 168 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Aylsham High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Aylsham High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 245 families put Aylsham High School as their first choice for 229 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 229 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.