North Walsham High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of ENRICH LEARNING TRUST

Spenser Avenue, North Walsham, NR28 9HZ

01692 402581 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 13 December 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%England 45% · 2024/25
30th highest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 48% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils641Room for 950 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 682 in 2019, 593 in 2021, 562 in 2022, 578 in 2023, 617 in 2024, 619 in 2025, 641 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0113 for 117 places, September 2026
29th highest of 52 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 53% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 December 2023.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

106 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Norfolk comparisons use the 28 of its 55 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 27 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 schoolNorfolkEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 22nd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 81% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 17th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 27 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 77% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
59% 47% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 86 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 16th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 40% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 69% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 17th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 39% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
75%said yes 77% 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. Norfolk figures pool parents at the Norfolk 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

98 pupils in this year group.

43% — 2 points below the Norfolk average, and 3 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 43% 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. 45.8 45.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.0 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 47%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 43% This school England 45% 2022/23 47% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 43%

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.

118 pupils in this year group.

92% — about the same as the Norfolk average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 76%
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. 92% 92% 92%
School sixth form 6% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 7% 13%
Further education college 76% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 4% 3%
Work 5% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%92%

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 offered117
Families who put it first113
Of those, offered a place113 (100%)
Families who listed it at all158

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 resourced provision with 20 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
12th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
31.0% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
20th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.7% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.5% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
36th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 28% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.0% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
19th lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.4% 8.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
32nd lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.2% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.9 21.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
34th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.8% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.16% 0.32% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
36th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.3 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
28th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.1 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
20th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 54% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
14.0% 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 North Walsham High School's Ofsted rating?

North Walsham High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 December 2023.

How did North Walsham High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend North Walsham High School?

75% of the 106 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend North Walsham High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is North Walsham High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 113 families put North Walsham High School as their first choice for 117 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 113 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.