Academy sponsor led · Norfolk

Nelson Academy

3–11Ages
386Pupils
PrimaryPhase
140363URN

Nursery Road, Downham Market, PE38 9PF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2016

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2022

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.4 below Norfolk median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Norfolk

71 applications for 45 places · 129th of 180 in Norfolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

63%met the expected standard

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2016

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Nov 2022

Inspection history

9 November 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
30 November 2016
Graded inspection: 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, Reception

0.4 below Norfolk median (2.0) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

71 applications · 45 places offered · 43 named it first

2026 1.6; Norfolk median median 2.0
2025 1.4; Norfolk median median 2.0
2024 1.5; Norfolk median median 1.7
2023 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.7
2022 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.7
2021 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.7
2020 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.7
2019 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
2018 1.5; Norfolk median median 1.7
2017 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.6
2016 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.6
2015 1.6; Norfolk median median 1.7
2014 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.6

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

This school
Norfolk median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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	45	71	1.6	43	0.96
Sep 2025	42	59	1.4	39	0.93
Sep 2024	46	69	1.5	38	0.83
Sep 2023	45	65	1.4	44	0.98
Sep 2022	48	67	1.4	47	0.98
Sep 2021	54	77	1.4	54	1.00
Sep 2020	48	69	1.4	43	0.90
Sep 2019	59	78	1.3	59	1.00
Sep 2018	41	63	1.5	41	1.00
Sep 2017	60	83	1.4	54	0.90
Sep 2016	54	85	1.6	62	1.15
Sep 2015	50	81	1.6	49	0.98
Sep 2014	52	71	1.4	50	0.96

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 70% · Writing 67% · Maths 67% → all three 63% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard63%88th of 263 in Norfolk

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard70%

Norfolk 73% England 78%

Higher standard25%

Norfolk 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard67%

Norfolk 68% England 75%

Greater depth9%

Norfolk 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard67%

Norfolk 71% England 77%

Higher standard16%

Norfolk 19% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Norfolk median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	63%	4%	104	102
2023/24	66%	11%	105	106
2022/23	58%	3%	102	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

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

Nelson AcademyThis school
This school

Remains Good2022

1.6applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School
1.2 km · Norfolk

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Wimbotsham and Stow Academy
1.8 km · Norfolk

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
2.0 km · Norfolk

Good2023

3.6applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
Holy Cross Church of England Primary School
5.4 km · Norfolk

Good2023

2.0applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
Hilgay Riverside Academy
5.5 km · Norfolk

Good2022

2.2applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Watlington Community Primary School
7.2 km · Norfolk

Remains Good2024

1.6applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Magdalen Academy
7.4 km · Norfolk

Good2024

3.0applications per place 17%met the SATs standard
St Martin At Shouldham Church of England Primary Academy
8.5 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.2applications per place 79%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140363 · 926/2053
Trust: Eastern Multi-Academy Trust
Capacity: 378 pupils · 386 on roll
Free school meals: 31.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 January 2014
Replaced: Clackclose Community Primary School, Downham Market (URN 121012)
Address: Nursery Road, Downham Market, PE38 9PF
Local authority: Norfolk · King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources