Old Buckenham High School
Attleborough, NR17 1RL · Norfolk · secondary school
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26th 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 — 4.1/10 against 878 of them, against 4.1/10 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 | 37.6 · 31 | 30% | 0.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.0 · 50 | 25% | 1.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.2 · 45 | 10% | 0.45 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Old Buckenham High School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 29.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.0 in 2023/24, meaning pupils performed as well as 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 2.2 out of 10 among them, against 2.9 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 501 pupils against a stated capacity of 575. 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 Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the school maintain its Good rating while managing a roll of 501?
What Ofsted said about Old Buckenham High School
Overview
Old Buckenham High School continues to be a good school, characterised by a strong sense of community where pupils feel safe and happy. Leaders maintain high expectations, resulting in generally positive behaviour and a broad, balanced curriculum that supports pupils’ academic and personal development.
Strengths
- There is a "strong sense of community" with trusting relationships between staff and pupils, and most parents would recommend the school.
- The "careers curriculum is a strength," featuring a carefully planned programme that benefits all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
- The personal development programme is "supported effectively," with age-appropriate input from external speakers and high participation in extra-curricular activities.
- Teachers "use assessment well" to identify gaps in knowledge and help pupils catch up, while the curriculum shows "no narrowing."
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," with robust systems for monitoring safety and timely support for vulnerable pupils.
Areas to improve
- The behaviour system is "not consistently applied by all teachers," leading to disruption not being addressed swiftly enough in some classes.
- Common misconceptions around spelling, punctuation, and grammar are "not identified systematically or regularly," and a lack of feedback prevents pupils from correcting errors.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with robust systems in place to monitor pupils’ safety and ensure vulnerable pupils are identified and supported.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.3 |
| 2024/25 | 37.8 |
| 2025/26 | 45.2 |
| 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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