Notre Dame High School, Norwich
114%
Capacity
1,572
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Notre Dame High School, Norwich
Notre Dame High School in Norwich is a Roman Catholic secondary that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its popularity with local families. The school has a capacity of 1,378 but currently houses 1,572 pupils, meaning it is operating well above its official limit. For the 2025/26 academic year, there were 586 total applications for just 204 places, with 284 of those coming as first preferences. That works out to nearly three applicants for every spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.4%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively mixed intake. The school is mixed gender and serves the 11-18 age range, with a dedicated sixth form on site. Its headteacher is Thomas Pinnington.
Academically, Notre Dame performs strongly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.6 is rated as 'well above average' and places it third among 57 schools in the Norfolk local authority. This is a significant achievement given the LA average Progress 8 score is -0.02. The school's Attainment 8 score is 57.5, and 79.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 60.1%, with 51.2% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value added score is -0.12, which is rated as 'below average', though the average points per entry is 36.21, equivalent to a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with an Outstanding grade for personal development.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, a theatre, and a chapel. Sports provision includes rowing, martial arts, and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs cover everything from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to a gardening club and a newspaper. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities, among others. Given its oversubscription and strong academic results at GCSE, this is a school that suits families who prioritise a structured, high-performing environment with a Catholic ethos. However, those considering the sixth form should weigh the slightly below-average value added against the school's otherwise strong record. The nearest outstanding-rated school is Jane Austen College, 1.1 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Surrey Street, Norwich, Norwich, NR1 3PB |
| Headteacher | Thomas Pinnington |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 1,572 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,572 / 1,378 (114% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.60)
381st of 3,141
Nationally
45th of 350
In East of England
1st of 8
In Norwich
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.3
'22/23
33.7
'23/24
36.2
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
2022/2373%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 209 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)73%
- FE college18%
- Sixth form college3%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
98% 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
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 201 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
24%
Russell Group
28%
Top-third HE
2%
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.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship2%
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- Psychology105
- Mathematics66
- Sociology62
- Biology58
- Business Studies:Single47
- Geography46
- Economics42
- History36
- Government and Politics35
- Chemistry31
- Physics26
- Physical Education / Sports Studies23
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.
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
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
586
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
284 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% 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 half 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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British48.3%
- White (other)18.3%
- Mixed10.3%
- Asian8.7%
- Black0.7%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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.
11
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
6
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 Notre Dame High School, Norwich
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
Surrey Street, Norwich
Norwich, NR1 3PB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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