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The Open Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Sponsored academy

Salhouse Road, Norwich NR7 9DL · open-academy.org.uk · 01603 481640

On the mapSearch near NR7 9DL

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
36.7
average Attainment 8 score. Norfolk 45.2, England 46
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
529
71% of 750 places
Local authority
Norfolk
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
39.9%
First language not English
14%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 91 families put the school first and 96 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 115 (Places 107)115September 2023: 114 (Places 104)114September 2024: 94 (Places 100)94September 2025: 110 (Places 100)110September 2026: 91 (Places 96)91Places 96
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 202696910.9100%
September 2025Sept 20251001101.1▲87%
September 2024Sept 2024100940.9100%
September 2023Sept 20231041141.1▲89%
September 2022Sept 20221071151.1▲91%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 36.7, and 34.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Norfolk it was 45.2, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D- (17.2 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 36.2 (England 46.3)36.22017/18: 41.3 (England 46.5)41.32018/19: 40.6 (England 46.7)40.62021/22: 42.0 (England 48.8)42.02022/23: 35.3 (England 46.3)35.32023/24: 34.9 (England 45.9)34.92024/25: 36.7 (England 46.0)36.7England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼36.746.0
▼34.6%45.4%
▼51.0%64.8%
▲64.4%40.5%
▼3.164.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form17.8−25.9
Further education63.4+21.7
Apprenticeship4+3
Employment3−1.9
Not in a lasting destination4+0.1
Activity not captured7.9+5

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 19.5 (England 30.5)D2016/17: 15.7 (England 31.1)D-2017/18: 20.4 (England 32.1)D2018/19: 22.0 (England 32.9)D+2021/22: 27.3 (England 37.9)C-2022/23: 16.7 (England 34.2)D-2023/24: 15.6 (England 34.4)D-2024/25: 17.2 (England 35.0)D-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
17 studentsD- (17.2)Below average -0.46
17 studentsD- (17.5)Below average -0.42
14 studentsPass (15.9)Well below average -0.95
0%AAB or better
92.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2427D- (15.6)-0.75
2022/2332D- (16.7)—
2021/2215C- (27.3)—
2018/1927D+ (22)-0.25
2017/1823D (20.4)-0.24
2016/1727D- (15.7)-0.43
2015/1647D (19.5)-0.38

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University30.6+4.3
Further education2.7−2.6
Apprenticeship2.8—
Employment44.4+7.6
Not in a lasting destination13.9−7.2
Activity not captured5.6−4.9

Ofsted

The Open Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 28 March 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
28 Mar 2023
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Jun 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jun 2022Inadequate
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementInadequate
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingNot effective

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Apr 2015Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
  • Jun 2013Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

68% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (90 replies, to 2 April 2023).

Recommend
68%
Replies
90
15% · 2 Apr 2023
Child is happy at school▼69% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼74% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼61% agreeEngland 83%
School has high expectations▼72% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▼73% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼60% agreeEngland 80%
Told how child is doing▼74% agreeEngland 83%
Good range of subjects▼80% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼81% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼59% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼60% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 81% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼41% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 63% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼32% agreeEngland 67%

based on 19 parents (21%) with SEND

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