Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #53 in Norfolk public Top 43% UK

City Academy Norwich

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Jo Franklin

corporate_fareSAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST

location_onNorwich, NR4 7LP

language Visit Website

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

699

trending_up

Attainment 8

35.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#53 in Norfolk

#3,010 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

City Academy Norwich is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Norwich, serving ages 11-19. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

City Academy Norwich is an academy sponsor led in Norwich, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It is part of SAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 682 pupils on roll, of whom 54% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.2, placing the school #53 in Norfolk and #3,010 of 3,216 nationally. 29.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 32.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

35.2

Grade 5+ E&M

29.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.0%

Entering EBacc8.10%

EBacc APS2.91

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.75

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

32.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10.60%

EBacc APS2.74

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.70

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS2.79

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS2.74

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.53

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS2.83

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS2.87

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

79%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)65%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment14%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)20%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

81%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)18%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 June 2024

Inspection Report

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22 November 2022

Inspection Report

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08 July 2021

Inspection Report

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16 March 2021

Inspection Report

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29 September 2020

Inspection Report

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18 June 2019

Inspection Report

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28 September 2018

Inspection Report

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26 April 2017

Inspection Report

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19 June 2015

Inspection Report

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24 March 2015

Inspection Report

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20 November 2014

Inspection Report

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21 September 2011

Inspection Report

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20 October 2010

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2024-06-18

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Good

2022-11-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3 EIF

Inadequate

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2018-09-28

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-04-26

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-03-24

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

30.2%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

12.0%(82 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

4pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 682 pupils. During this period, there were 206 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 30.2%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	682	206	30.2%	7.3%	4
2024/25 (Autumn term)	676	230	34.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	696	248	35.6%	7.4%	6
2023/24 (Spring term)	699	328	46.9%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	696	410	58.9%	8.2%	5
2022/23 (Summer term)	695	397	57.1%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	699	389	55.7%	6.4%	6
2022/23 (Autumn term)	697	353	50.6%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	673	234	34.8%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	682	139	20.4%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	681	87	12.8%	4.4%	4
2020/21 (Summer term)	642	139	21.7%	3.6%	3
2020/21 (Spring term)	646	14	2.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	639	50	7.8%	3.9%	3
2019/20 (Summer term)	604	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	604	216	35.8%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	601	243	40.4%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	576	110	19.1%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	571	95	16.6%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	576	115	20.0%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	597	68	11.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	601	47	7.8%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	616	84	13.6%	3.7%	3
2016/17 (Summer term)	658	98	14.9%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	679	138	20.3%	3.3%	5
2016/17 (Autumn term)	699	157	22.5%	3.1%	19

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Other Difficulty/Disability 126 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 73 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

76.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

77.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree27%

agree40%

disagree18%

strongly disagree6%

don't know8%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree23%

agree39%

disagree18%

strongly disagree16%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree37%

agree19%

disagree10%

strongly disagree15%

don't know2%

not applicable18%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes53%

no47%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree52%

agree9%

disagree18%

strongly disagree21%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree32%

agree50%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree50%

disagree10%

strongly disagree10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree45%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree32%

agree50%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know10%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree32%

agree40%

disagree10%

strongly disagree13%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes74%

no26%

Top Secondary Schools in Norfolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Notre Dame High School, Norwich

Good

location_on Norwich, NR1 3PB

emoji_events #1 in LA

Hethersett Academy

Outstanding

location_on Norwich, NR9 3DB

emoji_events #2 in LA

Wymondham College

Outstanding

location_on Wymondham, NR18 9SZ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Jane Austen College

Outstanding

location_on Norwich, NR3 1DD

emoji_events #4 in LA

Wymondham High Academy

Good

location_on Wymondham, NR18 0QT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Wayland Academy

Good

location_on Thetford, IP25 6BA

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Norfolk arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Norfolk

Notre Dame High School, Norwich

Hethersett Academy

Wymondham College

Jane Austen College

Wymondham High Academy

Wayland Academy