Stalham High School

About Stalham High School

Stalham High School is a mixed state secondary in Norfolk, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. It sits within the North Norfolk local authority, where it ranks 6th out of 7 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the bottom tier locally. The top-performing peers in the area are Hethersett Academy, Wayland Academy, and Notre Dame High School in Norwich, each with significantly higher Progress 8 scores. Stalham’s headteacher, Lee McMahon, leads a school that is smaller than its capacity — 484 pupils against 654 places — and it is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 132 applications for 95 places, all of which went to first-preference families. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 33.1%, well above the national average, and it does not have a sixth form or nursery provision. Its facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and science labs, and it offers a wide range of sports from rowing to gymnastics.

Academically, Stalham’s most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 rated it Good overall, with Good in every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is consistent with its previous inspection in 2017, which also rated it Good. In the 2023/24 exam results, the school’s Progress 8 score was -0.21, which is below the Norfolk local authority average of -0.02, and places it in the bottom 50 nationally. Its Attainment 8 score was 43.7, and 58.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 34.8% achieving a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 4.01, with 26.1% of pupils entering the EBacc and 15.2% achieving it at grade 5 or above. Progress in maths was close to the national average at -0.03, but English progress was weaker at -0.43, and open subjects were at -0.41.

For families considering Stalham, the school offers a broad range of extracurricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, orchestra, and debate club, alongside sports like rugby, netball, and swimming. Its SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is oversubscribed, with a ratio of 1.39 applicants per place, so early application is advisable. While its Progress 8 score is below the LA average, the school’s Good Ofsted rating and strong behaviour and attitudes grade suggest a stable environment. The lack of a sixth form means pupils will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. This school may suit families who value a well-equipped site and a supportive SEND framework, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are slightly below local benchmarks.

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