Classpot

Hethersett Academy

South Norfolk, NR9 3DBSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Sep 2022
Progress 8
+1.13
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
273 1st-choice / 257 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#39 of 3,141 nationally

About Hethersett Academy

Hethersett Academy is a mixed state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in South Norfolk, and it is a school that families clearly want to get into. With 1,209 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,350, it is not quite full, but the demand tells a different story. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 579 applications for 257 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.25 applicants per place. Of those, 273 put Hethersett as their first preference, and 251 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.9%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and does not have a sixth form or nursery provision, so it focuses entirely on the secondary years. Headteacher Jane Diver leads a school that has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it has held since its graded inspection in 2016, with a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirming it remains Outstanding.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressQueen's Road, Norwich, South Norfolk, NR9 3DB
HeadteacherJane Diver
Local AuthorityNorfolk
Number of Pupils1,209
Free School Meals (FSM)13.9%
School Capacity1,209 / 1,350 (90% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Sept 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (28 Sept 2022): School remains Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 5 Feb 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Music RoomsDining HallSwimming PoolSports HallICT SuiteTheatrePlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

HockeyFootballRugbyCricketDanceBasketballGymnasticsSwimmingCross Country

Clubs & Activities

GardeningOrchestraDebateDuke of EdinburghEco ClubChoirDramaScience ClubNewspaperYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere Learning

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hethersett Academy

Hethersett Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.