Fakenham Academy
99%
Capacity
743
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Fakenham Academy
Fakenham Academy was rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2015, and an ungraded visit in October 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.12, meaning pupils leave with slightly lower GCSE results than the national average, though this is broadly in line with the Norfolk local authority average of -0.02. In the North Norfolk district, the school ranks 4th out of 7 secondary schools on this measure, placing it in the bottom half nationally. A more encouraging picture emerges at A-level, where the school’s value-added score of 0.25 is rated Above average, with pupils achieving an average grade of C per entry. The sixth form is a clear strength, and the school’s overall effectiveness in this area was also judged Good by inspectors.
At GCSE, 49.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while 31.1% reached the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 38.4 is below the national average, and the EBacc average point score of 3.48 reflects a modest uptake of the full EBacc combination, with 57.8% of pupils entering the qualification and just 12.6% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Progress in maths is close to the national average, but progress in English is slightly weaker at -0.23. In the sixth form, 41 pupils took A-levels and achieved an average of 31.36 points per entry, equivalent to a C grade, with 9.1% achieving at least AAB in two facilitating subjects. The school’s progress banding for sixth form is Above average, suggesting students make stronger gains post-16 than they did at GCSE.
The school is heavily oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 136 applications for 103 places and 100 first-preference offers made. It serves a community where 24.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, above the national average. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and music rooms, and the school offers a wide range of clubs from chess to Model UN. SEND provision covers nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability. Parent views are broadly positive: 87% of respondents would recommend the school, and 95% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well there. This is a solid, improving secondary with a strong sixth form that suits families looking for a well-equipped local school with good pastoral support and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Field Lane, Fakenham, North Norfolk, NR21 9QT |
| Headteacher | Gavin Green |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 743 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.8% |
| School Capacity | 743 / 750 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 7 Jul 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.12)
1813th of 3,141
Nationally
209th of 350
In East of England
4th of 7
In North Norfolk
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
28.1
'22/23
28.2
'23/24
31.4
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
2022/2340%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 141 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)40%
- FE college40%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
92% 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
2022/2339%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 67 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
8%
Russell Group
10%
Top-third HE
3%
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.
- Employment40%
- University (HE)39%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education3%
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- Psychology30
- Business Studies:Single20
- Geography18
- Biology14
- Mathematics14
- Sociology12
- Art and Design (Photography)10
- Computer Studies / Computing9
- English Literature9
- Art and Design (Fine Art)8
- Film Studies8
- Physics7
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.
Ofsted Parent View
87 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
2025/26Oversubscribed103
136
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
100 families put this school as their 1st choice (74% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.3%
- White (other)3.4%
- Mixed2.5%
- Asian1.2%
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.
3
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
2
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fakenham 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
Field Lane, Fakenham
North Norfolk, NR21 9QT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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