Sewell Park Academy
105%
Capacity
789
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Sewell Park Academy
Sewell Park Academy is a secondary school in Norwich that is currently running above its official capacity, with 789 pupils on roll against a published capacity of 750. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 40.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is strong, with 336 applications for 150 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.24. Of those applicants, 184 put the school as their first preference, and 145 first-preference offers were made. The school is non-denominational and does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. It is a mixed, state-funded secondary for ages 11 to 16, led by headteacher David Day.
Academically, Sewell Park’s Progress 8 score of -0.43 is below the national average and ranks it 44th out of 57 similar schools in Norfolk. This places it in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure. The Attainment 8 score is 38, and 43.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 29% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.25, with 28.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 10.7% achieving a grade 4 or above across it. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was an improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018, indicating a clear upward trajectory under current leadership.
The school offers a range of facilities including a gymnasium, theatre, music rooms, science labs, and an astro turf pitch. Sports on offer include basketball, hockey, rounders, and dance, while clubs range from Eco Club and gardening to coding, DofE, and drama. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With no sixth form, families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. The school is oversubscribed, so parents should be aware that a first preference application is advisable. For those prioritising academic outcomes, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Jane Austen College, 1.6 km away, but Sewell Park suits families who value its inclusive intake, improving Ofsted trajectory, and broad extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | St Clement's Hill, Norwich, Norwich, NR3 4BX |
| Headteacher | David Day |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 789 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.9% |
| School Capacity | 789 / 750 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 May 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.43)
2499th of 3,141
Nationally
292nd of 350
In East of England
6th of 8
In Norwich
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/2310%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 101 pupils).
- FE college63%
- Not sustained13%
- School sixth form (stay)10%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship4%
85% 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.
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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
336
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
184 families put this school as their 1st choice (55% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.7%
- White (other)11.8%
- Asian4.3%
- Mixed3.9%
- Black0.6%
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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
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 Sewell Park 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
St Clement's Hill, Norwich
Norwich, NR3 4BX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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