Northgate High School
Dereham, NR19 2EU · Norfolk · secondary school
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42nd of 53 secondary schools in Norfolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.8/10 against 839 of them, against 2.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.3 · 21 | 30% | 0.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 25% | 0.64 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.6 · 22 | 10% | 0.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Northgate High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2023. In 2024/25, 42.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.32 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (3.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,203 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,280. 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 Progress 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Northgate High School
Overview
Northgate High School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, including overall effectiveness, the quality of education, and leadership. The report describes a school where pupils are generally ‘polite and courteous’, with a curriculum that ‘enables pupils to achieve well’ and strong provision for those with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate good behaviour, moving quickly to lessons and following instructions, while sixth-form students act with ‘maturity and confidence’.
- The curriculum is ambitious, with ‘effective provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) at all key stages’.
- There is a ‘sharp focus on the weakest readers’, supported by clear identification programmes and trained staff.
- Personal development is supported by a ‘well-planned programme of personal, social and health education’ and diverse extra-curricular opportunities, including charity events and pupil leadership roles.
- The school is ‘well led and managed’, with leaders ensuring staff workload is not excessive and prioritising staff training and well-being.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, assessment information is not always used effectively to address misconceptions, meaning ‘some pupils do not always know more and remember more’. Leaders must replicate best practice across all subjects to ensure pupils use knowledge fluently.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with pupils feeling safe, accurate record-keeping, and timely referrals to external agencies when necessary.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.9 |
| 2024/25 | 41.0 |
| 2025/26 | 40.6 |
| 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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