Academy converter · Norfolk

Wayland Academy

11–16Ages
564Pupils
SecondaryPhase
137949URN

Merton Road, Watton, Thetford, IP25 6BA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.4 below Norfolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Norfolk

167 applications for 137 places · 48th of 51 in Norfolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

50.2of 90

Norfolk 44.6 England 46.0

7th of 53 in Norfolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 11 July 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.2applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Norfolk median (1.6) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

167 applications · 137 places offered · 140 named it first

2026 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.6
2025 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
2024 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.4
2023 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2022 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2021 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2020 1.0; Norfolk median median 1.5
2019 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.5
2018 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2017 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.3
2016 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2015 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
2014 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4

More applications per place than the Norfolk median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Norfolk median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	137	167	1.2	140	1.02
Sep 2025	113	150	1.3	123	1.09
Sep 2024	109	125	1.2	107	0.98
Sep 2023	112	123	1.1	109	0.97
Sep 2022	114	124	1.1	107	0.94
Sep 2021	118	124	1.1	113	0.96
Sep 2020	118	123	1.0	110	0.93
Sep 2019	110	117	1.1	98	0.89
Sep 2018	93	103	1.1	87	0.94
Sep 2017	101	114	1.1	99	0.98
Sep 2016	103	114	1.1	100	0.97
Sep 2015	123	139	1.1	123	1.00
Sep 2014	97	102	1.1	94	0.97

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

99 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)50.27th of 53 in Norfolk

Norfolk 44.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths61%4th of 53 in Norfolk

Norfolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths75%

Norfolk 63% England 66%

This school
Norfolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.61

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	99	50.2	61%	75%	–
2024/25	106	52.0	63%	79%	–
2023/24	106	45.3	48%	63%	+0.61
2022/23	102	44.7	49%	66%	+0.28

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Wayland AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

1.2applications per place 50.2Attainment 8
The Nicholas Hamond Academy
12.3 km · Norfolk

2026

1.2applications per place 43.7Attainment 8
Attleborough Academy
14.2 km · Norfolk

2026

1.7applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Dereham Neatherd High School
15.5 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 43.1Attainment 8
Northgate High School
15.7 km · Norfolk

Good2023

1.6applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
Wymondham College
16.0 km · Norfolk

Outstanding2023

3.3applications per place 56.7Attainment 8
The Thetford Academy
16.1 km · Norfolk

Standards maintained2025

1.1applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
Old Buckenham High School
17.4 km · Norfolk

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 45.2Attainment 8
Litcham School
17.6 km · Norfolk

Good2022

1.7applications per place 44.1Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137949 · 926/4031
Trust: Inspiration Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 750 pupils · 564 on roll
Free school meals: 27.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2012
Replaced: Wayland Community High School (URN 121158)
Address: Merton Road, Watton, Thetford, IP25 6BA
Local authority: Norfolk · Breckland

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources