City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy
Norwich, NR4 6PP · Norfolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 53 secondary schools in Norfolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.0/10 against 839 of them, against 5.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 33% | 1.73 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 53.3 · 70 | 31% | 2.16 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.09 · 43 | 26% | 1.11 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.2 · 67 | 10% | 0.69 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 52.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2022.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, receive music tuition, or participate in the Youth STEMM Award. Year 12 students take a Business Study Trip.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,685 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,755. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama?
What Ofsted said about City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy
Overview
City of Norwich School continues to be a good school where pupils feel "happy, safe and included." Leaders have established a "broad and well-designed curriculum" that ensures pupils progress well, supported by teachers with strong subject knowledge and a collaborative culture.
Strengths
- Pupils are proud of their community, with bullying being "very rare" and behaviour described as "calm."
- The curriculum is designed to build "deep knowledge," with subject leaders ensuring learning builds on prior understanding.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive "strong support" and achieve well.
- Leaders prioritise reading, providing effective support for weaker readers and those speaking English as an additional language.
- Staff benefit from a "collaborative culture" where leaders listen to concerns about workload.
Areas to improve
- Teachers do not revisit learning from previous years effectively enough, meaning pupils do not always see connections between current and prior learning.
- Leaders show insufficient ambition in helping pupils choose subjects for key stage 4, resulting in too few pupils selecting the English Baccalaureate, particularly modern foreign languages.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, characterised by a "vigilant and transparent culture" where leaders evaluate local risks and ensure staff are well trained.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.6 |
| 2024/25 | 50.4 |
| 2025/26 | 49.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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