Academy converter · Norfolk

Hellesdon High School

11–18Ages
1,476Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
138039URN

187 Middletons Lane, Hellesdon, Norwich, NR6 5SB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

close to Norfolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Norfolk

311 applications for 196 places · 28th of 51 in Norfolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.0of 90

Norfolk 44.6 England 46.0

39th of 53 in Norfolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 3 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Sixth form provision	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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

close to Norfolk median (1.6) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

311 applications · 196 places offered · 169 named it first

2026 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.6
2025 1.5; Norfolk median median 1.7
2024 1.5; Norfolk median median 1.4
2023 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.4
2022 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.4
2021 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.4
2020 1.8; Norfolk median median 1.5
2019 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.5
2018 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.4
2017 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.3
2016 1.8; Norfolk median median 1.4
2015 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.4
2014 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.4

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	196	311	1.6	169	0.86
Sep 2025	223	344	1.5	182	0.82
Sep 2024	236	342	1.5	213	0.90
Sep 2023	243	336	1.4	227	0.93
Sep 2022	241	395	1.6	282	1.17
Sep 2021	243	394	1.6	278	1.14
Sep 2020	244	428	1.8	284	1.16
Sep 2019	248	461	1.9	309	1.25
Sep 2018	250	484	1.9	304	1.22
Sep 2017	248	394	1.6	257	1.04
Sep 2016	247	437	1.8	316	1.28
Sep 2015	280	392	1.4	281	1.00
Sep 2014	248	350	1.4	240	0.97

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

237 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.039th of 53 in Norfolk

Norfolk 44.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%35th of 53 in Norfolk

Norfolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Norfolk 63% England 66%

This school
Norfolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.49

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	237	42.0	37%	57%	–
2024/25	243	40.3	32%	53%	–
2023/24	250	39.5	32%	56%	−0.49
2022/23	248	40.3	29%	54%	−0.36

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

Hellesdon High SchoolThis school
This school

Requires improvement2023

1.6applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
Sewell Park Academy
3.2 km · Norfolk

2026

2.0applications per place 37.6Attainment 8
Ormiston Victory Academy
3.2 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.4applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
City Academy Norwich
3.7 km · Norfolk

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 36.2Attainment 8
Jane Austen College
4.0 km · Norfolk

Outstanding2024

2.8applications per place 52.2Attainment 8
Sprowston Community Academy
4.7 km · Norfolk

2026

1.6applications per place 45.8Attainment 8
Notre Dame High School, Norwich
5.0 km · Norfolk

Good2024

2.8applications per place 57.0Attainment 8
The Open Academy
5.0 km · Norfolk

Good2023

2.6applications per place 33.1Attainment 8
Taverham High School
5.5 km · Norfolk

Good2023

1.8applications per place 46.4Attainment 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: 138039 · 926/4005
Trust: The Wensum Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,290 pupils · 1,476 on roll
Free school meals: 27.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2012
Replaced: Hellesdon High School (URN 121152)
Address: 187 Middletons Lane, Hellesdon, Norwich, NR6 5SB
Local authority: Norfolk · Broadland

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