Classpot

Old Buckenham High School

Breckland, NR17 1RLSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
Progress 8
0.00
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
87 1st-choice / 100 places
Ranking
#1,509
of 3,141 nationally

About Old Buckenham High School

Old Buckenham High School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 192 applications for just 100 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 1.92. Of those applicants, 87 listed it as their first preference, and all of those were offered a place. While the school doesn't publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, the high demand suggests a strong reputation in the Breckland area. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 497 pupils on roll, slightly below its capacity of 575, and 23.9 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals. The headteacher is Paul Beale.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressAbbey Road, Attleborough, Breckland, NR17 1RL
HeadteacherPaul Beale
Local AuthorityNorfolk
Number of Pupils497
Free School Meals (FSM)23.9%
School Capacity497 / 575 (86% 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

29 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (29 Mar 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 19 Nov 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Swimming PoolLibraryPlaying FieldsDining HallGymnasiumICT SuiteSixth Form CentreMusic RoomsAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

BasketballRowingMartial ArtsBadmintonSwimmingNetballAthleticsCricketCross CountryRugby

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghScience ClubChoirModel United NationsYoung EnterpriseBook ClubFilm ClubGardening

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:10 – 15:15

Source: obhs.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Old Buckenham High School

Old Buckenham High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.