City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy
97%
Capacity
1,708
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy
City of Norwich School is a popular choice among local families, with 518 applications for 242 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.14. Of those, 222 first-preference families received an offer, reflecting strong demand for this mixed 11-18 state secondary. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high application numbers and first-preference rate suggest a solid reputation in the Norwich area. As an Ormiston Academy, it operates under a multi-academy trust, and its headteacher Jo Philpott leads a large school of 1,708 pupils, close to its capacity of 1,755. The school also has a significant proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 27.8%, which is worth noting for context.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. This marks a clear improvement from its 2013 inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of -0.09, which is slightly below the Norfolk local authority average of -0.02, placing the school 34th out of 57 similar schools in the area. Attainment 8 stood at 48.6, and 65.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score was -0.05, with an average points per entry of 33.73, equivalent to a C+ grade. The sixth form was rated Good in its own right, and 12.9% of students achieved at least AAB in two facilitating subjects.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre, alongside clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, debating, and coding. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, hockey, and dance among the options. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for ten different categories, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. With its large size and oversubscribed status, this is a school that suits families seeking a well-established, academically solid secondary with strong leadership and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value a sixth form on site. Its location in Norwich makes it accessible for families across the city and surrounding areas.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Eaton Road, Norwich, Norwich, NR4 6PP |
| Headteacher | Jo Philpott |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 1,708 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,708 / 1,755 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Dec 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Dec 2021): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.09)
1758th of 3,141
Nationally
203rd of 350
In East of England
5th of 8
In Norwich
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
38.0
'22/23
34.5
'23/24
33.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2358%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 260 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)58%
- FE college33%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
93% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 179 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
26%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)54%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology63
- Geography54
- Mathematics53
- Biology47
- History43
- Sociology32
- Economics30
- Chemistry27
- Physics25
- Business Studies:Single23
- English Literature20
- Film Studies20
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed242
518
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
222 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.5%
- White (other)7.8%
- Mixed6.7%
- Asian4.7%
- Black0.2%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
12
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
8
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 City of Norwich School, An Ormiston 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
Eaton Road, Norwich
Norwich, NR4 6PP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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