Ormiston Venture Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of ORMISTON ACADEMIES TRUST

Oriel Avenue, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, NR31 7JJ

01493 662966 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 18 March 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 27th highest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 52% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils889Room for 900 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 866 in 2019, 891 in 2021, 907 in 2022, 887 in 2023, 887 in 2024, 902 in 2025, 889 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.5250 for 168 places, September 2026
1st highest of 52 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 93% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 18 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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 educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

87 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

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 3rd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 81% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 70% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 27 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 92% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 47% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 63 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 73% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 69% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 33 parents of children with SEND
4th highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 75% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73% 58% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norfolk.
Higher than 70% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87%said yes 77% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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

177 pupils in this year group.

45% — about the same as the Norfolk average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 45% 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. 47.3 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: 39%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 45% This school England 45% 2022/23 39% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 45%

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.

176 pupils in this year group.

94% — 2 points above the Norfolk average, and 2 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 39%44%
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. 94% 92% 92%
School sixth form 1% 33% 34%
Sixth form college 39% 7% 13%
Further education college 44% 43% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 4% 3%
Work 5% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%94%

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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered168
Families who put it first250
Of those, offered a place167 (67%)
Families who listed it at all469

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.7 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.5

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
5th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
40.5% 25.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.2% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
24.4% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
33rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
42nd lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 19% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 8.9%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
47th lowest of 53 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
28.5% 23.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
40th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
26.4 21.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
38th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.6% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.55% 0.32% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 29th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 73% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.9 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
44th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.5 11.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
49th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Norfolk.
Higher than 3% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Ormiston Venture Academy's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 18 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Ormiston Venture Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Ormiston Venture Academy?

87% of the 87 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Ormiston Venture Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Ormiston Venture Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 250 families put Ormiston Venture Academy as their first choice for 168 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 167 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.