Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #47 in Norfolk public Top 38% UK

Old Buckenham High School

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

personMrs Claire Elliott

corporate_fareSAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST

location_onAttleborough, NR17 1RL

language Visit Website phone 1953860233

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2015

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Students

504

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Attainment 8

37.8

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GCSE Rank

#50 in Norfolk

#2,799 of 3,216 nationally

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Old Buckenham High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Attleborough, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Old Buckenham High School is an academy converter in Attleborough, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 497 pupils on roll, of whom 25% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 37.8, placing the school #50 in Norfolk and #2,799 of 3,216 nationally. 29.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2015. The school's current overall rating is Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.5 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

37.8

Grade 5+ E&M

29.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.6%

Entering EBacc56.10%

EBacc APS3.53

2024

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59.30%

EBacc APS4.09

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc64%

EBacc APS4.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67%

EBacc APS4.36

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc32%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.68

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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

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 March 2023

Inspection Report

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12 September 2018

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2015-10-07

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-10-09

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

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

11.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.8%(29 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

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 497 pupils. During this period, there were 56 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 11.3%, 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)	497	56	11.3%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	504	39	7.7%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	495	23	4.6%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	492	19	3.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	503	30	6.0%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	509	19	3.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	504	19	3.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	507	23	4.5%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	504	8	1.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	500	20	4.0%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	513	23	4.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	526	19	3.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	529	5	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	529	44	8.3%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	551	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	551	18	3.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	556	23	4.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	545	4	0.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	549	19	3.5%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	552	30	5.4%	3.8%	1

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

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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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 32 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 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.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

87.0%Positive

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

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree31%

agree50%

disagree13%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree26%

agree34%

disagree32%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree23%

disagree12%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

not applicable16%

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

yes23%

no77%

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

strongly agree70%

agree13%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree37%

agree40%

disagree17%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree41%

disagree14%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree27%

agree52%

disagree17%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree46%

agree48%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree34%

disagree18%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

Top Secondary Schools in Norfolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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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.

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