Hellesdon High School, Norwich

In its own words: "At Hellesdon High School, our vision is to create an educational experience where every student is prepared for success by fostering a culture of high academic challenge and supportive, inclusive relationships, grounded in the core principles of Enjoy, Achieve, and Succeed. Our vibrant and inclusive learning community ensures every student feels valued, supported, and challenged."

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and an open evening on Wednesday 2 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Hellesdon High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45 in Norfolk and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Norfolk and 47% in England.

That is up from 40.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.49: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 29.4, against 45.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 169 families put Hellesdon High School as their first choice and 311 named it as one of their preferences, for 196 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Hellesdon High School are Sewell Park Academy (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.6); Ormiston Victory Academy (2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 42.6); City Academy Norwich (2.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.2); and Jane Austen College (2.5 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.2).

Hellesdon High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Hellesdon High School is one of 12 schools run by The Wensum Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43 in 2024/25.

Of the 250 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 162 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 40% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 86 pupils (5.8%) received SEN support and 67 (4.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is high school (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 80 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hellesdon High School issued 395 suspensions, 25.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hellesdon High School are Kinsale Junior School (0.1 miles), Kinsale Infant School (0.1 miles), Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School (0.7 miles) and Heather Avenue Infant School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.