Iceni Secondary Academy
78%
Capacity
582
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Iceni Secondary Academy
Iceni Secondary Academy in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is currently running well below its physical capacity, with 582 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 745. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.3%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and points to a catchment with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite the empty spaces, the school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 admissions, receiving 143 applications for 112 places, with 100 of those coming as first preferences. The oversubscription ratio of 1.28 suggests demand is real, but the school is not yet filling its full physical footprint. Iceni is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form or nursery provision, and sits within Norfolk local authority. Its headteacher is Richard Rushton.
Academically, the picture is challenging. Iceni’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.73, placing it well below average nationally and ranking it 51st out of 57 secondary schools in Norfolk. That is a long way behind the local authority average of -0.02. Its Attainment 8 score of 34.7 is also low, and only 25.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 71.3%, but the proportion achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above is just 12.6%. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024, the school was not given an overall effectiveness grade but received Good ratings for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The quality of education was judged as Requires Improvement, the same grade it held in its previous inspection in 2020.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including art studios, science labs, music rooms, a library, and a gymnasium, plus a chapel and a sixth form centre (though there is no sixth form on site). Sports provision is strong, with rowing, martial arts, swimming, and athletics among the options, and clubs include Debate, Coding, Duke of Edinburgh, and Gardening. SEND support covers nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health. However, the Parent View responses are striking: only 37% of respondents said they have a child with SEND, yet 56% strongly disagreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need. Overall, 46% of parents would recommend the school. This is a school that may suit families who value its improving behaviour and leadership, but who are prepared to engage closely on academic progress and SEND provision.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Stoke Road, Thetford, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, IP26 4PE |
| Headteacher | Richard Rushton |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 582 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.3% |
| School Capacity | 582 / 745 (78% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Dec 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 20 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.73)
2877th of 3,141
Nationally
326th of 350
In East of England
7th of 7
In King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
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
2022/2314%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 103 pupils).
- FE college60%
- School sixth form (stay)14%
- Employment8%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Sixth form college3%
91% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
91 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed112
143
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
100 families put this school as their 1st choice (70% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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 British90.2%
- Mixed3.0%
- White (other)2.7%
- Asian0.4%
- 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.
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 Iceni Secondary 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
Stoke Road, Thetford
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, IP26 4PE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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