Acle Academy
96%
Capacity
685
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Acle Academy
Acle Academy is a mixed state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in the Broadland area of Norfolk, and it is currently a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 711 pupils and currently houses 685, meaning it is running close to full but with a small amount of headroom. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 24.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 230 applications for 136 places, making it officially oversubscribed with an oversubscription ratio of 1.69. Of those applications, 133 were first-preference offers, indicating that most families who put Acle as their top choice were successful, but competition for places is real.
Academically, Acle Academy sits in a middling position relative to other schools nationally. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.08, which is slightly below the local authority average of -0.02 and places it 33rd out of 57 similar schools in Norfolk. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 44.2 is reasonable, and 43.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 66.3% at the lower grade 4 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is 30.7%, with 10.9% of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including an astro turf, swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, music rooms and science labs, and pupils can choose from a wide variety of sports such as rowing, martial arts, hockey and netball. There is also a good selection of clubs, including eco club, debate, young enterprise and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Acle Academy does not have a sixth form, so pupils will need to move on elsewhere after Year 11. Given its oversubscribed status and improving Ofsted rating, this is a school that suits families looking for a well-resourced, inclusive secondary with strong demand in the local area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | South Walsham Road, Norwich, Broadland, NR13 3ER |
| Headteacher | Helen Watts |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 685 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.2% |
| School Capacity | 685 / 711 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1718th of 3,141
Nationally
194th of 350
In East of England
5th of 7
In Broadland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2310%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 71 pupils).
- FE college35%
- Sixth form college34%
- School sixth form (stay)10%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment4%
90% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed136
230
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
133 families put this school as their 1st choice (58% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.7%
- Mixed3.5%
- White (other)1.8%
- Asian0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acle Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
South Walsham Road, Norwich
Broadland, NR13 3ER
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
