The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold

Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Part of GRACE SCHOOLS

School Lane, Northwold, Thetford, IP26 5NB

01366 728241 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 19 September 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths75%England 62% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 16 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 77% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils101Room for 121 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 97 in 2019, 96 in 2021, 99 in 2022, 118 in 2023, 111 in 2024, 107 in 2025, 101 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.912 for 13 places, September 2026
11th highest of 17 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 29% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 September 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 managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

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

Thetford comparisons use the 13 of its 20 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 schoolThetfordEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thetford.
Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% 90% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thetford.
Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 91% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thetford.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 85% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 25 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thetford.
Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 81% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thetford.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93%said yes 88% 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. Thetford figures pool parents at the Thetford 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

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

12 pupils in this year group.

75% — 19 points above the Norfolk average, and 13 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 75% 56% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 92% 72% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 83% 66% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 92% 69% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 103 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 79%This school 2023/24: 60%This school 2024/25: 75% This school England 62% 2022/23 79% 2023/24 60% 2024/25 75%

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.

How hard is it to get in?

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

Places offered13
Families who put it first12
Of those, offered a place12 (100%)
Families who listed it at all24

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Norfolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
26.3% 23.9%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.7% 4.1%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.6% 15.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
18th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.9% 15.1%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.3% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
18th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Lower than 7% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
23.4% 12.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 5.6 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 2.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.10% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 67% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.0 19.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Thetford.
Higher than 16% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.6 9.8 10.6

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.

Nearby primary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold's Ofsted rating?

The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 September 2023.

How did The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold?

93% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 12 families put The Norman CofE Primary School, Northwold as their first choice for 13 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 12 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.