Cliff Park Ormiston Academy
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6TA · Norfolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
51st 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 — 1.7/10 against 445 of them, against 1.0/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 28.0 · 12 | 46% | 0.55 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.7 · 8 | 38% | 0.32 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.8 · 8 | 15% | 0.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Cliff Park Ormiston Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 28.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.7 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Eco-Council, Kindness Ambassadors, Well-being Ambassadors, Anti-Bullying Group, Diversity Group, OAT EAST Student Council, Senior Students, and Sports Leaders. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 812 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the breakfast club integrate with the wider pastoral care for secondary students?
What Ofsted said about Cliff Park Ormiston Academy
Overview
Cliff Park Ormiston Academy has “improved markedly” following a period of turbulence, with inspectors judging the quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership as “Good”. The school has stabilised through extensive curriculum revisions and a new lesson structure, fostering a positive environment where pupils feel “well supported” and demonstrate “everyday excellent behaviour”.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit high standards of conduct, consistently showing “respect to their peers and adults” and engaging positively with the school’s ‘CARE’ values.
- The curriculum is ambitious and locally relevant, threading links to the “local maritime industry” to help pupils see the connection between subjects and future careers.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is “carefully considered”, with staff quickly identifying barriers and providing appropriate, well-trained assistance.
- Staff morale is high, with leaders taking “considerable care to manage their workload and support their well-being”, creating a positive culture for employees.
- Attendance has “improved significantly” due to close work with families, and pupils benefit from a “comprehensive careers programme” that promotes high aspirations.
Areas to improve
- Teachers in some subjects must better address pupils’ misconceptions “rapidly enough” to ensure learners can securely retain important content.
- The school needs to further develop strategies to reduce “persistent absence” among disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, who are not fully benefiting from school life.
- Leaders must improve communication with parents, as some families do not yet have a “positive view of the improvements” due to feeling uninformed about day-to-day work.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.5 |
| 2024/25 | 35.9 |
| 2025/26 | 36.8 |
| 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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