Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Norfolk
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| 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 entry122 applications · 95 places offered · 90 named it first
- 2026 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.6
- 2025 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
- 2024 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2023 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2022 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2021 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2020 1.2; 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; as the previous school
- 2015 1.0; Norfolk median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2014 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4; as the previous school
- This school
- Norfolk median
Dashed bars: as Smithdon High School (URN 121157), the previous school.
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 | 95 | 122 | 1.3 | 90 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2025 | 101 | 127 | 1.3 | 98 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2024 | 101 | 112 | 1.1 | 100 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2023 | 110 | 121 | 1.1 | 110 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2022 | 112 | 131 | 1.2 | 109 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2021 | 122 | 132 | 1.1 | 118 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2020 | 99 | 116 | 1.2 | 95 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2019 | 131 | 148 | 1.1 | 128 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2018 | 135 | 146 | 1.1 | 129 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2017 | 115 | 123 | 1.1 | 109 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2016 * | 119 | 128 | 1.1 | 119 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2015 * | 114 | 113 | 1.0 | 96 | 0.84 |
| Sep 2014 * | 96 | 107 | 1.1 | 96 | 1.00 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 116 | 41.3 | 41% | 62% | – |
| 2024/25 | 94 | 40.3 | 28% | 53% | – |
| 2023/24 | 120 | 39.9 | 32% | 54% | −0.41 |
| 2022/23 | 125 | 43.1 | 38% | 67% | +0.07 |
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
- Smithdon High SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGood20231.3applications per place 41.3Attainment 8
- 20.0 km · NorfolkRemains Good20222.0applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
- 20.8 km · NorfolkGraded · no overall grade20241.9applications per place 41.1Attainment 8
- 21.2 km · Norfolk20262.1applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 23.6 km · NorfolkRemains Good20231.6applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
- 23.9 km · NorfolkGood20221.5applications per place 39.6Attainment 8
- 25.7 km · NorfolkStandards maintained20241.2applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 26.1 km · Lincolnshire20262.8applications per place 54.0Attainment 8 Selective
- 26.4 km · LincolnshireRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 31.2Attainment 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 sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 143520 · 926/4026
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 750 pupils · 579 on roll
- Free school meals
- 27.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 January 2017
- Replaced
- Smithdon High School (URN 121157)
- Address
- Downs Road, Hunstanton, PE36 5HY
- Local authority
- Norfolk · King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources