Best Secondary Schools in Norfolk 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 50 schools across Norfolk. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
50
Open secondary schools in Norfolk
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
43 Good or better
of 50 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Hethersett Academy currently leads
Methodology

Norfolk has 50 open secondary schools. Of the 50 with a published Ofsted inspection, 5 (10%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 86% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Hethersett Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Norfolk follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Hethersett Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 79 View school
2. Notre Dame High School, Norwich
Secondary
 Good 75 View school
3. Wymondham College
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
4. Jane Austen College
Secondary
 Outstanding 72 View school
5. Wayland Academy
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
6. Hewett Academy
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
7. Ormiston Victory Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 61 View school
8. City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
9. Cromer Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
10. Sheringham High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
11. Taverham High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
12. Diss High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
13. Wymondham High Academy
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
14. Ormiston Venture Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 57 View school
15. Broadland High Ormiston Academy
Secondary
 Good 55 View school
16. Framingham Earl High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
17. Dereham Neatherd High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
18. Downham Market Academy
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
19. North Walsham High School
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
20. Caister Academy
Secondary
 Good 52 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Norfolk

Best primary schools in NorfolkTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in NorfolkTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in NorfolkPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in NorfolkReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in SuffolkCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in CambridgeshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in PeterboroughCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in EssexCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Norfolk

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Norfolk?
There are 50 open secondary schools in Norfolk (closed schools are excluded). 5 of the 50 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Norfolk?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Norfolk is Hethersett Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Norfolk?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Norfolk?
Primary and secondary applications in Norfolk are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Norfolk council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.