Smithdon High School
Hunstanton, PE36 5HY · Norfolk · secondary school
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37th 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 — 2.8/10 against 871 of them, against 3.0/10 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 | 40.5 · 39 | 30% | 1.16 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.41 · 20 | 25% | 0.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.3 · 25 | 10% | 0.25 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Smithdon High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2023. In 2024/25, 27.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.41 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 1.7 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join The Brilliant Club, Sutton Scholars, STEMM Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Science club, and Gardening clubs. Sports include badminton, dance, table tennis, yoga, karate, running, gymnastics, and basketball. Arts activities comprise the school choir, productions, and termly concerts. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 579 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the after-school club integrate with the academic curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Smithdon High School
Overview
The inspection judged the school’s overall effectiveness as ‘Good’, marking an improvement from its previous rating. Pupils benefit from ‘well-crafted, ambitious programmes of study’ and generally display good conduct, though some hold negative views of school due to strained relationships with certain staff.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘well-crafted’ and ‘ambitious’, with subject specialists identifying key knowledge to ensure pupils ‘learn well’ over time.
- Teachers generally explain information in ‘small manageable steps’, helping pupils understand content before progressing.
- There are ‘clear routines’ for behaviour, and most pupils ‘understand and follow the agreed systems’.
- Pupils value opportunities to develop talents, with high participation in activities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
- Staff feel ‘valued’ and ‘included’, appreciating changes that have reduced their workload.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must use assessment strategies more precisely to ‘pinpoint how well pupils have understood’ lessons, ensuring they can adapt teaching to address specific gaps.
- The school should foster ‘positive relationships based on respect and trust’ between all staff and pupils to prevent negative attitudes towards education.
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 | 39.9 |
| 2024/25 | 40.3 |
| 2025/26 | 41.3 |
| 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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