Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #46 in Norfolk public Top 37% UK

Iceni Secondary Academy

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

personMr Richard Rushton/ Mrs Emma Owner

corporate_fareACADEMY TRANSFORMATION TRUST

location_onThetford, IP26 4PE

language Visit Website phone 1366728333

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

781

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#47 in Norfolk

#2,669 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Iceni Secondary Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Thetford, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Iceni Secondary Academy is an academy sponsor led in Thetford, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ACADEMY TRANSFORMATION TRUST. The school has approximately 582 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 39, placing the school #47 in Norfolk and #2,669 of 3,216 nationally. 37.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

In 2024, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 8% achieving the higher standard.

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 Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.8:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 37.5 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

Grade 5+ E&M

37.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.5%

Entering EBacc42.20%

EBacc APS3.48

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc71.30%

EBacc APS3.3

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS3.67

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.53

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc77%

EBacc APS3.91

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.45

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS3.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS3.53

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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

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

62%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading60% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing85% LA 59% · Eng 72%

Maths73% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

43%

LA 49%England 60%

Reading57% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing71% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths50% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.6

Read

LA -0.8

-5.0 to 1.8

0.7

Write

LA -1.7

-2.6 to 4.0

-1.3

Maths

LA -1.5

-4.6 to 1.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 58%England 65%

Reading64% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths86% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.9

Read

LA -0.9

-5.1 to 1.3

1.1

Write

LA -1.1

-1.9 to 4.0

-0.5

Maths

LA -1.5

-3.4 to 2.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 57%

Reading50% LA 70%

Writing60% LA 73%

Maths70% LA 68%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.1

Read

LA -0.8

-3.6 to 3.8

0.9

Write

LA -0.9

-2.7 to 4.5

1.2

Maths

LA -1.3

-2.2 to 4.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 December 2024

Inspection Report

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10 March 2020

Inspection Report

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06 July 2016

Inspection Report

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16 December 2014

Inspection Report

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24 September 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-12-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 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

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2020-03-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-07-06

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-09-24

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

35.2%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

12.7%(74 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 582 pupils. During this period, there were 205 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 35.2%, 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)	582	205	35.2%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	586	233	39.8%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	741	177	23.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	748	127	17.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	777	251	32.3%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	762	225	29.5%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	781	200	25.6%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	777	94	12.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	738	67	9.1%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	736	55	7.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	747	64	8.6%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	716	40	5.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	719	4	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	716	41	5.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	683	1	0.1%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	683	30	4.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	680	35	5.1%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	617	26	4.2%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	616	45	7.3%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	620	30	4.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	663	23	3.5%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	657	30	4.6%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	665	39	5.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	760	26	3.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	768	18	2.3%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	765	21	2.7%	3.1%	0

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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 46 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 38 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 17 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 12 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 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.

65.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

62.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree9%

agree43%

disagree18%

strongly disagree24%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree8%

agree28%

disagree25%

strongly disagree35%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree20%

agree20%

disagree20%

strongly disagree29%

don't know3%

not applicable7%

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

yes38%

no62%

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

strongly agree14%

agree25%

disagree6%

strongly disagree53%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree23%

agree36%

disagree17%

strongly disagree16%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree15%

agree36%

disagree27%

strongly disagree18%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree13%

agree34%

disagree27%

strongly disagree25%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree12%

agree47%

disagree18%

strongly disagree17%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree23%

agree53%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know7%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree12%

agree27%

disagree26%

strongly disagree25%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes44%

no56%

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)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

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