Schools by area › Norfolk › Downham Market Academy
Downham Market Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Bexwell Road, Downham Market PE38 9LL · dma.tela.org.uk · 01366 389100
On the mapSearch near PE38 9LL
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Norfolk 45.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,329
- 85% of 1,567 places
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 27%
- First language not English
- 6.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 175 families put the school first and 193 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 193 | 175 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 219 | 242 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 256 | 314 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 231 | 278 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 261 | 269 | 1▲ | 96% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.8, and 35.3% 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 C+ (32.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼35.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼59.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼23.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.87 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 139204)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 18.3 | −5.7 |
| Sixth form college | 4.6 | −0.4 |
| Further education | 59.4 | +8 |
| Other education | 1.5 | +0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 3 | −1.5 |
| Employment | 4.6 | −3.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.1 | −0.9 |
| Activity not captured | 4.6 | +2.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 students | C+ (32.5) | Average +0.09 | |
| 36 students | C+ (32.5) | Average +0.09 | |
| 18 students | Dist- (31) | Average +0.03 | |
| Tech level8 students | Dist+ (37.9) | Average +0.27 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35 | B- (35.4) | +0.23 |
| 2022/23 | 40 | C- (26.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 43 | C (31.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 51 | C (28.8) | +0.05 |
| 2017/18 | 67 | C- (25.3) | -0.07 |
| 2016/17 | 94 | C- (27.1) | -0.07 |
| 2015/16 | 101 | C- (25.3) | +0.06 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 42.6 | −4.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3 | −2.1 |
| Employment | 38.3 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.5 | +4.2 |
| Activity not captured | 6.4 | +4.3 |
Ofsted
Downham Market Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 26 April 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 26 Apr 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Apr 2017
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 139204), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Apr 2017Inadequate
Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 139204)
What parents said
62% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (133 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 62%
- Replies
- 133
- 12% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 89% who raised concerns
based on the 50% who had a child bullied
based on 23 parents (17%) with SEND