Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #211 in Norfolk public Top 87% UK

The Free School Norwich

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

personMr Darren Webster

corporate_fareTHE FREE SCHOOL NORWICH

location_onNorwich, NR1 3NX

language Visit Website phone 1603761044

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

187

school

Expected Standard

46%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

The Free School Norwich is a Free schools primary school in Norwich, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 87% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

The Free School Norwich is a free schools in Norwich, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of THE FREE SCHOOL NORWICH. The school has approximately 185 pupils on roll, of whom 21% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 46% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 4% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #211 of 265 primaries in Norfolk and #12,791 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

46%

LA 53%

Reading75% LA 69%

Writing57% LA 63%

Maths61% LA 66%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

46%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading79% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing54% LA 59% · Eng 72%

Maths71% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

61%

LA 49%England 60%

Reading71% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing64% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths79% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.3

Read

LA -0.8

-1.2 to 3.8

-2.1

Write

LA -1.7

-4.5 to 0.3

-0.4

Maths

LA -1.5

-2.8 to 2.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

79%

LA 58%England 65%

Reading92% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths83% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.8

Read

LA -0.9

2.1 to 7.4

1.1

Write

LA -1.1

-1.3 to 3.5

2.0

Maths

LA -1.5

-0.3 to 4.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 57%

Reading92% LA 70%

Writing88% LA 73%

Maths92% LA 68%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.2

Read

LA -0.8

1.8 to 6.6

3.9

Write

LA -0.9

1.6 to 6.2

6.3

Maths

LA -1.3

4.1 to 8.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 May 2025

Inspection Report

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29 March 2023

Inspection Report

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26 July 2022

Inspection Report

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22 November 2017

Inspection Report

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10 July 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-05-20

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-11-22

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-07-10

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

3.2%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.6%(3 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 185 pupils. During this period, there were 6 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.2%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	185	6	3.2%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	187	4	2.1%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	196	3	1.5%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	191	4	2.1%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	185	1	0.5%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	195	3	1.5%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	187	4	2.1%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	183	5	2.7%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	189	4	2.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	183	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	181	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	176	3	1.7%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	176	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	170	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	174	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	174	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	171	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	166	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	167	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	166	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	165	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	167	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	168	1	0.6%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	165	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	168	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	168	0	0.0%	0.5%

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree59%

agree31%

disagree7%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree48%

agree34%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree14%

disagree7%

strongly disagree10%

don't know10%

not applicable17%

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.

strongly agree48%

agree31%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree66%

agree21%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree41%

agree48%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree59%

agree31%

disagree3%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree41%

agree41%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree52%

agree28%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know14%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes86%

no14%

Top Primary Schools in Norfolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Outstanding

location_on Wymondham, NR18 0HL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Stalham Academy

Good

location_on Norwich, NR12 9PS

emoji_events #2 in LA

Charles Darwin Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Norwich, NR1 1DJ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

Good

location_on Wisbech, PE14 8EY

emoji_events #4 in LA

North Wootton Academy

Good

location_on King's Lynn, PE30 3PT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Stradbroke Primary Academy

Good

location_on Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Norfolk arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary 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.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Norfolk

Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Stalham Academy

Charles Darwin Primary School

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

North Wootton Academy

Stradbroke Primary Academy