The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
88%
Capacity
107
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
If you're a parent looking at The Norman Church of England Primary School in Northwold, the first thing you'll notice is that it's a genuinely popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 21 applications for just 12 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. Every one of those 12 first-preference applicants was offered a spot, which suggests that for families who put it top of their list, it works out. The school is small, with 107 pupils against a capacity of 121, so classes are intimate and your child is likely to be known well by staff. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and early years provision. That's a clear step up from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019, and a strong signal that things are heading in the right direction under headteacher Melanie Frost.
Academically, the school's Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a solid picture. 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is comfortably above the Norfolk local authority average of 52%. In reading, the average scaled score was 106, with 67% reaching the expected standard and 27% achieving the higher standard. Maths followed a similar pattern, with an average score of 104 and 60% at the expected level. Writing was a little lower, with 60% at expected and just 7% reaching the higher standard. Nationally, the school sits in the 56th percentile for its combined RWM expected score, and within the King's Lynn and West Norfolk area it ranks 17th out of 58 primary schools. There's no progress data available, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds for individual pupils, but the raw outcomes are respectable and above the local norm.
The school offers a nursery provision for children from age two, which is a real bonus for working parents looking for a smooth transition into Reception. Facilities include a chapel, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a gymnasium, plus an outdoor playground. Sports on offer cover gymnastics, football, athletics, cricket and cross country, and there are clubs for coding, drama and choir. The SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. With its Church of England character, small size, and strong local demand, this school will particularly suit families who want a community-focused, faith-based primary with good academic foundations and a clear recent improvement trajectory.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | School Lane, Thetford, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, IP26 5NB |
| Headteacher | Melanie Frost |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 107 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.8% |
| School Capacity | 107 / 121 (88% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (60%)
7750th of 13,686
Nationally
834th of 1,612
In East of England
17th of 58
In King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
60%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
79%
'23/24
60%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed12
21
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
12 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.9%
- Mixed7.5%
- White (other)4.7%
- Black0.9%
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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
School Lane, Thetford
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, IP26 5NB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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