Magdalen Academy, King's Lynn
Magdalen Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in King's Lynn, part of Unity Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 35th-highest of the 40 schools in King's Lynn with published results, and 13,886th of 14,452 across England. It was 79% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Magdalen Academy in detail
Magdalen Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We aim to provide happy and supportive surroundings for the children in our care and a place with a wide range of learning experiences to help and ensure the full growth and development of the child - physically, intellectually, socially and morally."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 33% of Year 6 pupils at Magdalen Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 33% in reading and 17% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Magdalen Academy
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Magdalen Academy as their first choice and 15 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Magdalen Academy are Watlington Community Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths); St Germans Academy (2 miles, Good, 64% reading, 82% maths); Holy Cross Church of England Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 50% reading, 60% maths); and Tilney St Lawrence Community Primary School (3.4 miles, Requires improvement, 36% reading, 29% maths).
Magdalen Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Watlington Community Primary SchoolSt Germans AcademyHoly Cross Church of England Primary SchoolTilney St Lawrence Community Primary School
The trust
Magdalen Academy is one of 15 schools run by Unity Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
9.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 6 (14%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Magdalen Academy had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Watlington Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mill Road (opposite), 290 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Magdalen Academy issued 3 suspensions, 6.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
23.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 33% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 17% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 50% to 17% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
14.3
Avg class size
11.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Magdalen Academy
Newsletter19 - Friday 10th July 2026
10 Jul 2026
Newsletter 18 - Friday 26th June 2026
26 Jun 2026
Newsletter 17 - Friday 12th June 2026
12 Jun 2026
From Magdalen Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Magdalen Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Magdalen Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Magdalen Academy is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Magdalen Academy
Will you get a place at Magdalen Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Magdalen Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Magdalen Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Magdalen Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Magdalen Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
79%
Available places
44 pupils
56 places
12 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - King's Lynn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for King's Lynn
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
14.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
43
Total Pupils
29
Boys
14
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
8.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,105
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£9,583
Per pupil
£423k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
8.6%
Persistent absence
35
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Magdalen Academy
What are SATs results like at Magdalen Academy?
Of the pupils at Magdalen Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 33% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Magdalen Academy's Ofsted rating?
Magdalen Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Magdalen Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Magdalen Academy is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Magdalen Academy?
Magdalen Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 79% of its 56 places.
How big are the classes at Magdalen Academy?
Classes at Magdalen Academy average 14.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Magdalen Academy?
Magdalen Academy has around 43 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Magdalen Academy?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Magdalen Academy in 2024/25. 8.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Magdalen Academy?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Magdalen Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Magdalen Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Magdalen Academy?
Magdalen Academy is at Park Crescent, Magdalen, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 3BU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)