Classpot

Smithdon High School

King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE36 5HYSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
Progress 8
-0.41
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
98 1st-choice / 101 places
Ranking
#2,465
of 3,141 nationally

About Smithdon High School

Smithdon High School sits within Norfolk local authority, a secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in King's Lynn and West Norfolk. Among the seven schools in its immediate borough, it ranks fifth by Progress 8 score, placing it in the bottom half locally. Across the wider Norfolk area, it comes 42nd out of 57 secondary schools. For context, the top-performing peers in the county include Hethersett Academy, Wayland Academy, and Notre Dame High School in Norwich, all of which post significantly stronger Progress 8 scores. Smithdon's own score of -0.41 is notably below the Norfolk average of -0.02, and the school sits in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure. That said, the school is popular with local families: for the 2025/26 intake it received 127 applications for 101 places, with 93 first-preference offers made from 98 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.26. This suggests that despite middling academic rankings, the school holds a strong reputation among parents in its immediate area.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDowns Road, Hunstanton, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE36 5HY
HeadteacherAmanda Gibbins
Local AuthorityNorfolk
Number of Pupils564
Free School Meals (FSM)23.9%
School Capacity564 / 750 (75% 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

7 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 7 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Swimming PoolSports HallGymnasiumScience LabsPlaying FieldsLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

HockeyCross CountryBasketballNetballRugbyGymnasticsFootballCricketSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseDebateDramaNewspaperFilm Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Smithdon High School

Smithdon 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.