Norton Canes Primary Academy
67%
Capacity
211
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Norton Canes Primary Academy
Norton Canes Primary Academy has strong signals from parents and the local community. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 64 applications for 46 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.39. Of those, 36 families put it as their first preference, and all 36 were offered a place. This level of demand suggests a solid local reputation. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Beth Hadley. It serves a community where 38.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average, and the school currently has 211 pupils against a capacity of 315, meaning there is room for growth.
Academically, Norton Canes performs well against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Staffordshire local authority average of 65 per cent. This places the school 8th out of 23 primary schools in Cannock Chase and in the top 50 per cent nationally. Average scores in reading (103) and maths (102) are both above the national baseline of 100. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous 2016 inspection, where it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a practical range of facilities including a Forest School, sensory room, art studios and a gymnasium, and runs clubs such as drama, choir, chess and film club. Sports on offer include gymnastics, swimming, cross country and rounders. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for a wide spectrum, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is Fulfen Primary School, 4.4 km away. Norton Canes Primary Academy is a good fit for families in Cannock Chase looking for a well-regarded local primary with improving outcomes, a broad set of enrichment activities, and strong SEND support, particularly given its below-capacity roll and clear upward trajectory since its previous inspection.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | School Road, Cannock, Cannock Chase, WS11 9SQ |
| Headteacher | Beth Hadley |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 211 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.4% |
| School Capacity | 211 / 315 (67% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Jul 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 31 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (69%)
4753rd of 13,686
Nationally
462nd of 1,378
In West Midlands
8th of 23
In Cannock Chase
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
69%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
62%
'23/24
69%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
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
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed46
64
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
36 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:45
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: nortoncanesacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.9%
- White (other)3.3%
- Mixed3.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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
3
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 Norton Canes Primary Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
School Road, Cannock
Cannock Chase, WS11 9SQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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