Magdalen Academy

About Magdalen Academy

Magdalen Academy holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, with every category assessed — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management — all judged Good. That consistency is reassuring, but the school’s exam results tell a more challenging story. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, just 17% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is well below the Norfolk local authority average of 52%, and it places the school in the bottom 50 nationally for this measure. The reading average score was 96 and the maths average score was 93, both below the national benchmark of 100. No pupils achieved the higher standard in any of the three subjects. For parents focused squarely on academic outcomes, these figures are a significant concern.

The Ofsted breakdown offers some context for those results. The school is very small, with only 47 pupils on roll against a capacity of 70, and 13% of children are eligible for free school meals. Inspectors noted that behaviour and attitudes are Good, and the early years provision is also Good, which suggests a calm and supportive start for younger children. But the gap between the school’s own performance and the LA average is wide, and the ranking within Norfolk — 258th out of 344 primary schools — reflects that. The previous inspection in 2013 also rated the school Good overall, so the rating has held steady across two inspections, but the academic data has not kept pace with peers. For a family weighing up options, the key question is whether the pastoral strengths and small setting can compensate for the below-average attainment.

The school does offer some practical advantages. It has a nursery provision for children from age three, which can help with early transition. Facilities include an ICT suite, art studios, a library, playing fields and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, athletics, dance, football, gymnastics and rounders, and there are clubs for drama, science and film. The school has identified SEND support for specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school was oversubscribed: 10 applications for 5 places, with all 5 first-preference offers going to families who put it first. That suggests a local reputation that goes beyond the exam data, perhaps appealing to families who value a small, community-focused primary with strong pastoral care.

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