Graded inspection · Apr 2022 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 | |||
| 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 entry248 applications · 193 places offered · 175 named it first
- 2026 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.6
- 2025 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
- 2024 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2023 1.4; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2022 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2021 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4
- 2020 1.1; 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; as the previous school
- 2016 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2015 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2014 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.4; as the previous school
- This school
- Norfolk median
Dashed bars: as Downham Market Academy (URN 139204), Downham Market High School - Technology College (URN 121210), 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 | 193 | 248 | 1.3 | 175 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2025 | 219 | 293 | 1.3 | 242 | 1.11 |
| Sep 2024 | 256 | 359 | 1.4 | 314 | 1.23 |
| Sep 2023 | 231 | 318 | 1.4 | 278 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2022 | 261 | 305 | 1.2 | 269 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2021 | 235 | 269 | 1.1 | 226 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2020 | 217 | 233 | 1.1 | 184 | 0.85 |
| Sep 2019 | 211 | 230 | 1.1 | 185 | 0.88 |
| Sep 2018 | 194 | 222 | 1.1 | 175 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2017 * | 223 | 245 | 1.1 | 210 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2016 * | 210 | 231 | 1.1 | 207 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2015 * | 252 | 276 | 1.1 | 248 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2014 * | 211 | 242 | 1.2 | 207 | 0.98 |
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.) | 237 | 42.5 | 33% | 57% | – |
| 2024/25 | 201 | 43.8 | 35% | 59% | – |
| 2023/24 | 197 | 43.3 | 43% | 63% | −0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 174 | 40.5 | 30% | 59% | −0.23 |
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
- Downham Market AcademyThis schoolThis schoolGood20221.3applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
- 14.2 km · NorfolkGraded · no overall grade20241.4applications per place 37.3Attainment 8
- 16.1 km · CambridgeshireStandards maintained20251.5applications per place 38.3Attainment 8
- 16.5 km · CambridgeshireNot yet inspected1.8applications per place
- 16.6 km · Norfolk20262.1applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 16.9 km · CambridgeshireSerious weaknesses 20251.1applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
- 17.0 km · NorfolkGraded · no overall grade20241.9applications per place 41.1Attainment 8
- 17.1 km · NorfolkRemains Good20241.8applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
- 17.7 km · NorfolkRemains Good20222.0applications per place 46.2Attainment 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
- 145196 · 926/4029
- Capacity
- 1,567 pupils · 1,329 on roll
- Free school meals
- 27.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 November 2017
- Replaced
- Downham Market Academy (URN 139204); Downham Market High School - Technology College (URN 121210)
- Address
- Bexwell Road, Downham Market, PE38 9LL
- Local authority
- Norfolk · King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources