Dereham Neatherd High School
Dereham, NR20 3AX · Norfolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
44th 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 the 920 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.7/10 among them, against 3.0/10 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 | 39.8 · 37 | 46% | 1.70 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.42 · 20 | 38% | 0.76 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.1 · 34 | 15% | 0.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dereham Neatherd High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 48.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.42 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.8 out of 10 among them, against 4.5 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and an after-school club. Trips include a Year 7 visit to the North Norfolk coast, a Year 8 trip to Normandy, a 5-day trip to Iceland, and a visit to Bramley Lakes.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,079 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,130. 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 scores? What specific support is available for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award? How are class sizes managed with the current roll?
What Ofsted said about Dereham Neatherd High School
Overview
The report describes a “highly inclusive school” where pupils enjoy a welcoming environment and behave respectfully. While behaviour, personal development, and leadership are rated as Good, the quality of education requires improvement because many pupils are not achieving as well as they should due to gaps in foundational knowledge.
Strengths
- Pupils are “wholly embraced into the full life of the school,” with SEND pupils enjoying the same opportunities as their peers.
- Behaviour is strong; pupils are “respectful and polite” and appreciate the school’s “new high expectations.”
- Personal development is supported by a well-designed society and ethics programme and a broad careers programme.
- Staff well-being is valued, and the school has increased the rigour of its internal checks on work quality.
- Reading support is effective, helping pupils develop into “confident and fluent readers.”
Areas to improve
- The school must act with greater urgency to secure improvements in curriculum design and implementation, ensuring governors hold leaders to account.
- Staff must identify and address gaps in pupils’ foundational knowledge so they can progress through the curriculum effectively.
- Assessment and teaching adaptations need to be improved to help pupils learn the curriculum in the depth they should.
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 | 42.4 |
| 2024/25 | 47.4 |
| 2025/26 | 43.1 |
| 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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