Cromer Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of INSPIRATION TRUST

Norwich Road, Cromer, NR27 0EX

01263 511433 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 December 2016; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths59%England 45% · 2024/25
6th highest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 81% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils665Room for 720 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 587 in 2019, 649 in 2021, 670 in 2022, 692 in 2023, 667 in 2024, 650 in 2025, 665 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0139 for 141 places, September 2026
24th highest of 52 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 58% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 December 2016.

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
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

133 pupils in this year group.

59% — 15 points above the Norfolk average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 59% 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. 48.1 45.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.5 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 55%This school 2023/24: 54%This school 2024/25: 59% This school England 45% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 54% 2024/25 59%

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.

139 pupils in this year group.

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

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 17%64%
England 34%13%37%
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 17% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 7% 13%
Further education college 64% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 4% 3%
Work 6% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%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 offered141
Families who put it first139
Of those, offered a place139 (100%)
Families who listed it at all208

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

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

Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 15 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
23rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.6% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
22nd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.3% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
48th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
41st highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.6% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
9th lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.2% 8.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
8th lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 72% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
18.8% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
25th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
18.6 21.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.8% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.31% 0.32% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 38th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 52% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.9 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
42nd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.8 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 36th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 16% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Questions parents ask

What is Cromer Academy's Ofsted rating?

Cromer Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 December 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Cromer Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 59% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Cromer Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 139 families put Cromer Academy as their first choice for 141 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 139 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.