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Norwich’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Norwich? 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 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Norwich.

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 Norwich. 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.

Top secondary schools in Norwich by Progress 8

Norwich High School for Girls GDST is currently ranked #1 in Norwich based on its published Progress 8 score of +1.04. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Norwich High School for Girls GDSTOther independent schoolGirls+1.04-51.42%
2Aurora Eccles SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.74-0%
3Hethersett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.68Outstanding43.11%
4Harford Manor School, NorwichFoundation special schoolMixed+0.68Good-
5Norwich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.67-64.55%
6Hall SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed+0.58Good-
7All Saints SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.4-2.27%
8Hewett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.37Good17.7%
9Notre Dame High School, NorwichAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good40.25%
10Sprowston Community AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good13.88%
11Acorn Park SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.24-0%
12Sewell Park AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good12.51%
13The Wherry SchoolFree schools specialMixed+0.15Good18.92%
14Reepham High School and CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.09-13.28%
15Framingham Earl High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good23.38%
16Hobart High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good15.59%
17Banks House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0.03--
18University Technical College NorfolkUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.04-16.84%
19The Clare SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed-0.07Outstanding-
20Norwich Steiner SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-0.08--
21City of Norwich School, An Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good24.92%
22Ormiston Victory AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.3-13.49%
23City Academy NorwichAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Requires improvement4.88%
24Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-0.58-23.87%
25The LighthouseOther independent special schoolMixed-0.81--
26Long Stratton High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.83Good21.92%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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Top secondary schools in Norwich by GCSE % 9–7

Norwich School is currently ranked #1 in Norwich 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Norwich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.67-64.55%
2Norwich High School for Girls GDSTOther independent schoolGirls+1.04-51.42%
3Hethersett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.68Outstanding43.11%
4Notre Dame High School, NorwichAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good40.25%
5Broadland High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-Good25.39%
6City of Norwich School, An Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good24.92%
7Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-0.58-23.87%
8Jane Austen CollegeFree schoolsMixed-Outstanding23.72%
9Framingham Earl High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good23.38%
10Long Stratton High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.83Good21.92%
11Aylsham High SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-Good21.59%
12The Wherry SchoolFree schools specialMixed+0.15Good18.92%
13Taverham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Good17.96%
14Hewett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.37Good17.7%
15University Technical College NorfolkUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.04-16.84%
16Acle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-Good16.09%
17Hobart High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good15.59%
18Stalham High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good15.01%
19Sprowston Community AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good13.88%
20Ormiston Victory AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.3-13.49%
21Reepham High School and CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.09-13.28%
22Sewell Park AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good12.51%
23Hellesdon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Requires improvement11.72%
24The Open AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good4.88%
25City Academy NorwichAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Requires improvement4.88%
26All Saints SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.4-2.27%
27Eaton Hall Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterBoys-Good0%
28Acorn Park SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.24-0%
29Aurora Eccles SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.74-0%
30Future EducationOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
31Red Balloon - NorwichOther independent schoolMixed--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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All secondary schools in Norwich

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Norwich, 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Acle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-Good16.09%
Acorn Park SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.24-0%
All Saints SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.4-2.27%
Aurora Eccles SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.74-0%
Aurora White House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Aylsham High SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-Good21.59%
Banks House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0.03--
Broadland High Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-Good25.39%
City Academy NorwichAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Requires improvement4.88%
City of Norwich School, An Ormiston AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good24.92%
Eaton Hall Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterBoys-Good0%
Framingham Earl High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good23.38%
Future EducationOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Hall SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed+0.58Good-
Harford Manor School, NorwichFoundation special schoolMixed+0.68Good-
Hellesdon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Requires improvement11.72%
Hethersett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.68Outstanding43.11%
Hewett AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.37Good17.7%
Hobart High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good15.59%
Jane Austen CollegeFree schoolsMixed-Outstanding23.72%
Langley Preparatory School At Taverham HallOther independent schoolMixed---
Long Stratton High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.83Good21.92%
Norwich High School for Girls GDSTOther independent schoolGirls+1.04-51.42%
Norwich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.67-64.55%
Norwich Steiner SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-0.08--
Notre Dame High School, NorwichAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good40.25%
Ormiston Victory AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.3-13.49%
Red Balloon - NorwichOther independent schoolMixed--0%
Red Balloon Educational Trust-NorfolkOther independent special schoolMixed---
Reepham High School and CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.09-13.28%
Sewell Park AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good12.51%
Sprowston Community AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.26Good13.88%
Stalham High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good15.01%
Taverham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Good17.96%
The Clare SchoolFoundation special schoolMixed-0.07Outstanding-
The LighthouseOther independent special schoolMixed-0.81--
The Open AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good4.88%
The Parkside School, NorwichFoundation special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
The Stables Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Wherry SchoolFree schools specialMixed+0.15Good18.92%
Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-0.58-23.87%
Town Close Co-Educational Preparatory SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
University Technical College NorfolkUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.04-16.84%

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Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, 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 Norwich?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 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 Norwich, 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 Norwich

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Norwich is Norwich High School for Girls GDST by Progress 8 and 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 Norwich consistently score above +0.8.

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