SchoolScoresFirside Junior School
Academy · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed
Part of THE WENSUM TRUST
Firside Junior School, Middletons Lane, Norwich, NR6 5NF
01603 426550 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 June 2015. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Norwich comparisons use the 94 of its 142 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 48 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.
| Statement | This school | Norwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 80th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 87th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 83rd highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 35 parents whose child had been bullied 39th highest of 56 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 29% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 56% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 77 parents who had raised a concern 74th highest of 91 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 12% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND 23rd highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 9% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 73% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 87th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 23%). 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
89 pupils in this year group.
71% — 15 points above the Norfolk average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 1% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 66% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 89% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places for speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 86th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.7% | 23.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 44th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 4.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 102nd highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 15.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 60th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.9% | 15.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 72nd lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 46% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 63rd lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 12.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 28th lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 5.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 31st lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 43rd highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 61% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.5 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 16th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 86th highest of 115 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 27% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 16.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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).
Nearby primary schools
- Heather Avenue Infant School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Kinsale Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kinsale Infant School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion)
- Catton Grove Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mile Cross Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Garrick Green Infant School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Lodge Lane Infant School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- Old Catton CofE VC Junior School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- White Woman Lane Junior School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Firside Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Firside Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 June 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Firside Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Firside Junior School?
62% of the 79 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Firside Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142840.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.