Ofsted: Requires improvement

Duke of Lancaster School

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

personMr Robert Speck

corporate_fareSENDAT

location_onFakenham, NR21 9DQ

language Visit Website phone 1328800880

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

trending_up

Attainment 8

7.1

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GCSE Rank

#65 in Norfolk

#4,144 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

Duke of Lancaster School is a Free schools special school in Fakenham, serving ages 5-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Duke of Lancaster School is a free schools special in Fakenham, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 5-16. It is part of SENDAT. The school has approximately 100 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 7.1, placing the school #65 in Norfolk and #4,144 of 4,663 nationally. 9.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

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.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 6.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.5 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

7.1

Grade 5+ E&M

9.10%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.32

2024

Progress 8 Score

-3.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.31

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 53%

Reading27% LA 69%

Writing0% LA 63%

Maths0% LA 66%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 49%England 61%

Reading30% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 59% · Eng 72%

Maths10% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

13%

LA 49%England 60%

Reading50% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing13% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths13% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.5

Read

LA -0.8

-8.2 to 1.1

-9.0

Write

LA -1.7

-13.4 to -4.5

-10.6

Maths

LA -1.5

-15.0 to -6.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 March 2024

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2024-03-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

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

6.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.0%(4 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 100 pupils. During this period, there were 6 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	100	6	6.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	103	1	1.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	95	1	1.1%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	97	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	95	1	1.1%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	75	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	75	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	74	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	46	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	43	0	0.0%	4.9%

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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 72 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Specific 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.

82.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

66.0%Positive

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

30.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree9%

agree33%

disagree27%

strongly disagree15%

don't know15%

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

strongly agree3%

agree30%

disagree42%

strongly disagree21%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree18%

agree45%

disagree21%

strongly disagree12%

not applicable3%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree24%

agree45%

disagree18%

strongly disagree9%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree15%

agree30%

disagree24%

strongly disagree15%

don't know15%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree58%

disagree6%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree21%

agree36%

disagree30%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree15%

agree45%

disagree9%

strongly disagree15%

don't know15%

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

strongly agree15%

agree27%

disagree27%

strongly disagree24%

don't know6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree36%

disagree12%

strongly disagree12%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes82%

no18%

Duke of Lancaster School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover