Norwich School, Norwich
Norwich School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Norwich. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was an inspection in April 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Norwich School in detail
Norwich School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: ""Education has been part of life in and around Norwich's Cathedral Close for over 900 years. We are proud to continue this rich tradition as we prepare young people for 21st century life: the Cathedral oversees our busy lives and underpins the sense of stability with which our surroundings balance the energy of this thoroughly modern co-educational urban day school."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, badminton, swimming, yoga and dance.
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026, an open day on Monday 7 December 2026, an open day on Thursday 11 March 2027 and an open day on Thursday 17 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Norfolk
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Norwich School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Norwich School are Norwich Steiner School (0.9 miles, Good); Notre Dame Preparatory School (Norwich) Limited (1 mile); Town Close Co-Educational Preparatory School (1.1 miles); and Norwich High School for Girls GDST (1.3 miles).
Norwich Steiner SchoolNotre Dame Preparatory School (Norwich) LimitedTown Close Co-Educational Preparatory SchoolNorwich High School for Girls GDST
Where pupils go next
Of the 172 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 12% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 146 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 4 (0.4%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
23 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Norwich Cathedral (adjacent), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 915 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.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Inspection
22 April 2025
Routine Inspection
14 November 2023
Inspection
20 October 2022
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
17 September 2019
Regulatory Compliance
19 October 2016
Inspection
1 January 2010
About
Norwich School is a private selective day school in the close of Norwich Cathedral, Norwich. Among the oldest schools in the United Kingdom, it has a traceable history to 1096 as an episcopal grammar school established by Herbert de Losinga, first Bishop of Norwich.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Norwich School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Norwich School
The Annual Poetry Slam 2026
1 Oct 2026
An Address on Leadership and Service at Norwich School from Jonathan Pearson, Development Director
29 Sep 2026
Lower 3 Informal Concert - Strings, Keys & Dragons!
29 Sep 2026
Languages Ambassadors - Belek Reflects on a Memorable Week at the Goethe-Institut London
29 Sep 2026
Tom Chester's (21-26) Upcoming India Challenge
28 Sep 2026
Archive Boxes for the Music Department
28 Sep 2026
From Norwich School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Norwich School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Norwich School.
- Premier Charles Darwin Wrap Around Care400m away · Not yet graded
- Premier Free School Holiday Club830m away · Not yet graded
- Set Your Sights830m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 87
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 23
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 87 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 23 serious and 64 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
1,112 pupils
1,250 places
138 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Norwich
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,559
Applications
8,625
Got 1st preference
94.1%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
146
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
13.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
1,112
Total Pupils
630
Boys
482
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Norwich School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Norwich School
What are GCSE results like at Norwich School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Norwich School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Norwich School last inspected?
Norwich School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was an inspection in April 2025.
How many pupils go to Norwich School?
Norwich School has around 1112 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Norwich School?
Norwich School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Norwich School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Norwich School: Premier Charles Darwin Wrap Around Care (400m away, registered, not yet graded), Premier Free School Holiday Club (830m away, registered, not yet graded) and Set Your Sights (830m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Norwich School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 87 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 23 serious and 64 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Norwich School?
Norwich School is at 71A The Close, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4DD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)