The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)
Harleston, IP20 9DD · Norfolk · all-through school
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28th 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 — 4.4/10 against 895 of them, against 4.5/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.8 · 37 | 46% | 1.70 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.04 · 53 | 38% | 2.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.9 · 49 | 15% | 0.76 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School) overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 29.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.04 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly better than those nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.4 out of 10 among them, against 3.3 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 824 pupils against a stated capacity of 973. 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 support is available for pupils who are not making expected progress? How does the academy structure its curriculum to ensure consistency across the 3-16 age range?
What Ofsted said about The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel happy and safe, supported by staff who listen and care for them. Leaders have taken effective action to address historical weaknesses, resulting in a broad, ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge from early years to Year 11. The school is praised for its calm, respectful behaviour and strong pastoral care, with early years provision judged as outstanding.
Strengths
- Early years provision is outstanding, with staff forming caring relationships and tailoring activities to individual needs, resulting in "exceptional depth to children’s knowledge".
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious", carefully designed so knowledge builds and connects across phases, including residential trips and visits abroad.
- Reading is prioritised effectively, with staff trained in phonics and initiatives like ‘Reading Cafés’ promoting pleasure, particularly in the primary phase.
- Behaviour is "calm and respectful", with pupils showing kindness and responding positively to staff guidance within a values-led ethos.
- Personal development is promoted well through meaningful leadership roles, enrichment activities, and a focus on mental health and online safety.
Areas to improve
- The whole-school approach to teaching writing is not consistently applied, leading to variation in the quality of pupils’ written work across the curriculum.
- Staff do not always check pupils’ understanding with sufficient precision, allowing misconceptions or gaps in knowledge to hinder secure learning.
- Subject-specific careers guidance in the secondary phase is not always comprehensive enough.
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 | 47.3 |
| 2024/25 | 42.7 |
| 2025/26 | 45.9 |
| 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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