Iceni Secondary Academy
Thetford, IP26 4PE · Norfolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
52nd 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 914 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.1/10 among them, against 0.8/10 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 | 26.0 · 9 | 46% | 0.41 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.73 · 7 | 38% | 0.29 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.3 · 10 | 15% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Iceni Secondary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.73 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 0.8 out of 10 among them, against 2.1 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 555 pupils against a stated capacity of 745. 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 in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Iceni Secondary Academy
Overview
Iceni Secondary Academy is described as a “safe and calm place for learning” where pupils benefit from “strong relationships with caring and committed staff.” While the school has made significant progress in resetting its culture and improving behaviour, the quality of education currently “Requires improvement” due to historical gaps in pupil knowledge and inconsistent support for some learners.
Strengths
- Behaviour is “orderly and purposeful,” with pupils conducting themselves well and bullying being “not typical.”
- The revised curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” with pupils developing strong reasoning skills in subjects like mathematics.
- Personal development is effective, helping pupils build “positive character traits” and engage with values such as being “kind.”
- Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” and the school provides high-quality training for staff.
- The school prepares pupils well for future careers, offering appropriate advice on apprenticeships and next steps.
Areas to improve
- The school must provide “precise support” tailored to the individual learning needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Leaders need to use assessment more effectively to identify and address “historical gaps in their knowledge” from previous weak curriculums.
- The school should improve how it “communicates and engages with parents” so they better understand the improvements being made.
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 | 34.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.0 |
| 2025/26 | 37.3 |
| 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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