Norfolk’s best secondary schools 2026

Trying to find the right school for your child in Norfolk? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2024/2025 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Norfolk.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Norfolk. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

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Top secondary schools in Norfolk by GCSE % 9–7

Norwich School in Norwich is currently ranked #1 in Norfolk based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
1Norwich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-76.1%----
2Norwich High School for Girls GDSTOther independent schoolGirls-58.1%----
3Gresham's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-54.1%----
4Hethersett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-45.6%----
5Notre Dame High School, NorwichAcademy converterMixed-41.9%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
6Thetford Grammar SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-39%----
7Jane Austen CollegeFree schoolsMixed-36.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
8City of Norwich School, An Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-26.1%----
9Long Stratton High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-25.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
10Wymondham High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-24.5%----
11University Technical College NorfolkUniversity technical collegeMixed-24.4%GoodOutstandingGoodGood
12Framingham Earl High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-22.9%----
13Taverham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-22.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
14Hewett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-21.7%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
15Sheringham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21%GoodGoodGoodGood
16Wayland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-21%GoodGoodGoodGood
17Ormiston Venture AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-20.6%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
18Dereham Neatherd High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.2%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
19Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-20.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
20Cromer AcademyAcademy converterMixed-20.1%----
21Langley SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-19.8%----
22Sprowston Community AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-19.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
23Acle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-18.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
24Springwood High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.4%----
25St Clement's High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18.4%----
26Caister AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18%----
27King Edward VII AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18%GoodGoodGoodGood
28Broadland High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-17.8%----
29Diss High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.3%----
30OneSchool Global UK - Swaffham CampusOther independent schoolMixed-16.1%----
31Hobart High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16%GoodGoodGoodGood
32Alderman Peel High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
33Aylsham High SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-15.1%----
34North Walsham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.1%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
35Marshland High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.4%----
36Ormiston Victory AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.6%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
37Downham Market AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
38Lynn Grove AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
39The Thetford AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
40Reepham High School and CollegeAcademy converterMixed-12.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
41Northgate High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
42King's Lynn AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
43The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)Academy converterMixed-10.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
44Flegg High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.6%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
45Sewell Park AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
46Attleborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.3%----
47Iceni Secondary AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
48The Open AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
49Cliff Park Ormiston AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
50Old Buckenham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-9.7%----
51Smithdon High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
52Hellesdon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-9.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
53Great Yarmouth Charter AcademyFree schoolsMixed-9.2%----
54Fakenham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%----
55Stalham High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
56Litcham SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
57All Saints SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-7.3%----
58City Academy NorwichAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementGood
59The Nicholas Hamond AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7%GoodGoodGoodGood
60The Wherry SchoolFree schools specialMixed-6.4%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
61Sheridan House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-4.3%----
62Aurora Eccles SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-1.5%----
63Acorn Park SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
64Fen Rivers AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-0%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
65Include School NorfolkOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
66Westfield House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----

Note: Rankings use 2024/2025 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Norfolk

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Norfolk, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
Acle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-18.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
Acorn Park SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Alderman Peel High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
All Saints SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-7.3%----
Attleborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.3%----
Aurora Eccles SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-1.5%----
Aurora White House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Avocet HouseOther independent special schoolMixed------
Aylsham High SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-15.1%----
Banks House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Beeston Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Broadland High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-17.8%----
Bure Park Specialist AcademyFree schools specialBoys--GoodGoodOutstandingOutstanding
Caister AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18%----
Chapel Green SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed--GoodOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Churchill Park Complex Needs SchoolAcademy special converterMixed------
City Academy NorwichAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementGood
City of Norwich School, An Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-26.1%----
Cliff Park Ormiston AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Community-Ed AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed------
Compass Community School Eld ParkOther independent special schoolMixed------
Cromer AcademyAcademy converterMixed-20.1%----
Dereham Neatherd High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.2%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Diss High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.3%----
Downham Market AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
Duke of Lancaster SchoolFree schools specialMixed--Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Eaton Hall Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterBoys--GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Fakenham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%----
Fen Rivers AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-0%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Flegg High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.6%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Framingham Earl High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-22.9%----
Fred Nicholson SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed------
Future EducationOther independent special schoolMixed------
Glebe House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Great Yarmouth Charter AcademyFree schoolsMixed-9.2%----
Gresham's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-54.1%----
Hall SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed------
Harford Manor School, NorwichFoundation special schoolMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
Hellesdon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-9.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
Hethersett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-45.6%----
Hewett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-21.7%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Hobart High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16%GoodGoodGoodGood
Iceni Secondary AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Include School NorfolkOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
Jane Austen CollegeFree schoolsMixed-36.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
John Grant School, Caister-on-SeaFoundation special schoolMixed--GoodOutstandingGoodGood
King Edward VII AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18%GoodGoodGoodGood
King's Lynn AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Kingsbrook SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Langley Preparatory School At Taverham HallOther independent schoolMixed------
Langley SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-19.8%----
Litcham SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
Long Stratton High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-25.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Lynn Grove AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
Marshland High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.4%----
North Walsham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.1%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
Northgate High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
Norwich High School for Girls GDSTOther independent schoolGirls-58.1%----
Norwich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-76.1%----
Norwich Steiner SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Notre Dame High School, NorwichAcademy converterMixed-41.9%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Novaturient SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Old Buckenham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-9.7%----
OneSchool Global UK - Swaffham CampusOther independent schoolMixed-16.1%----
Orchard Manor SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Ormiston Venture AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-20.6%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Ormiston Victory AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.6%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Ortus Education Ltd - West Raynham SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Red Balloon - NorwichOther independent schoolMixed------
Red Balloon Educational Trust-NorfolkOther independent special schoolMixed------
Reepham High School and CollegeAcademy converterMixed-12.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sewell Park AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sheridan House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-4.3%----
Sheringham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sheringham Woodfields SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed------
Sidestrand Hall SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed------
Smithdon High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Springwood High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.4%----
Sprowston Community AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-19.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
St Andrew's SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
St Clement's High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-18.4%----
Stalham High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
Taverham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-22.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Clare SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed------
The Damara SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)Academy converterMixed-10.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Nicholas Hamond AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Open AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Parkside School, NorwichFoundation special schoolMixed------
The Stables Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Thetford AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Wherry SchoolFree schools specialMixed-6.4%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Thetford Grammar SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-39%----
Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-20.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
Town Close Co-Educational Preparatory SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Turnstone House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
University Technical College NorfolkUniversity technical collegeMixed-24.4%GoodOutstandingGoodGood
Wayland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-21%GoodGoodGoodGood
Westfield House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Wymondham High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-24.5%----

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2024/2025 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Please note that Progress 8 scores were not published by the DfE for the 2024/25 academic year, as this cohort did not have Key Stage 2 prior attainment data due to pandemic-related assessment cancellations.

Some schools may also be missing data for GCSE 9–7 results or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Norfolk?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2024/2025 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Norfolk, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Norfolk

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Norfolk is Norwich School by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Norfolk County Council. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
Ofsted rates secondary schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding secondary schools excel in teaching quality, student behaviour, leadership, and outcomes.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Norfolk consistently score above +0.8.

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