Sprowston Community Academy
Norwich, NR7 8NE · Norfolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
39th 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 913 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.2/10 among them, against 4.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 16 | 35% | 0.55 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 52.7 · 68 | 30% | 2.05 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.39 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.8 · 49 | 10% | 0.49 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sprowston Community Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.0, slightly above the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.39 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 3.0 out of 10 among them, against 4.0 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,702 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,767. 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 8 scores, given the recent negative figure? What specific steps are taken to help students achieve grade 5 or above in core subjects? How does the new Ofsted framework affect the current teaching and learning environment?
What Ofsted said about Sprowston Community Academy
Overview
The report describes an inclusive and supportive school where pupils feel a strong sense of belonging and safety. Leaders demonstrate a strategic approach to improvement, fostering high staff morale and effective multi-agency partnerships. While attendance remains below the national average, there is sustained improvement, and pupils generally achieve well from their starting points.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a "coherent approach to curriculum and teaching" that is "ambitious and well sequenced," helping them build knowledge consistently.
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils "feel safe."
- Staff provide "personalised and effective support" for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, using bespoke strategies and 'passports'.
- The school offers a "broad and inclusive enrichment offer," including clubs and events like the 'Pride March', which promote belonging and resilience.
- Leaders prioritise staff wellbeing, contributing to "high levels of staff morale" and a positive working culture where staff feel "respected, valued and supported."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should "sustain and accelerate improvements in pupils' attendance" so more pupils benefit fully from education.
- Leaders should ensure sixth-form students selecting A-levels have the "prior knowledge and attitudes to learning" needed to achieve well.
- Basic errors in some pupils' spelling and handwriting persist, causing them to "struggle to record their thoughts and ideas as well as they should."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.7 |
| 2024/25 | 45.0 |
| 2025/26 | 45.8 |
| 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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