Magdalen Gates Primary School, Norwich

In its own words: "The Magdalen Gates Primary School building was built by the Norwich School Board in 1888 within sight of Mousehold Heath, The Cathedral and the City Wall. As it is 131 years old, the building is quite unique. It is comprised of a series of large halls, from which all of the other rooms are accessed."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 5:40pm.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Magdalen Gates Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 79% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Magdalen Gates Primary School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 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 primary schools to Magdalen Gates Primary School are George White Junior School (0.3 miles, Good, 61% reading, 62% maths); Angel Road Junior School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 85% reading, 83% maths); Angel Road Infant School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement); and Mousehold Infant & Nursery School (0.4 miles, Outstanding).

Magdalen Gates Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Magdalen Gates Primary School (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (74%).

41.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (54%), Black (10%) and Mixed (10%).

Magdalen Gates Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stacy Road (adjacent), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Magdalen Gates Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 874 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Magdalen Gates Primary School issued 21 suspensions, 10.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Magdalen Gates Primary School are Jane Austen College (0.5 miles); Sewell Park Academy (0.6 miles); Notre Dame High School, Norwich (1.1 miles); and The Open Academy (1.2 miles).