Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School, Norwich
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 19 in Norwich, part of Inspiration Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2018)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School in detail
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School in its own words
In its own words: "We're a specialist maths and science sixth form in the heart of Norwich. Our vision is for our students to be the next generation of leaders within the STEM industries or any other profession they see as their future. We focus on academic excellence and have high aspirations for your future."
From the headteacher's welcome: "The pastoral mentor prides himself on knowing our young people well and works alongside the teaching and support staff, as well as aiming to develop positive relationships with the students and their families. Our pastoral mentor also works closely with our academic mentor."
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Norfolk
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School is one of 18 schools run by Inspiration Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 244 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 59% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 33% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
1.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 5 pupils (0.8%) received SEN support and 8 (1.3%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
29 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Theatre Royal (opposite), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 879 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.
Suspensions and exclusions
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from April 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to be a learner with this provider?
Students have high aspirations to achieve their goals. They enjoy studying alongside like-minded peers. Students understand that making mistakes is an integral aspect of learning. As a result, students work hard, develop their resilience and grow in confidence. They become adept at learning independently to support their transition to higher education.
Students enjoy many exciting opportunities to learn beyond the academic content of their programmes. They take part in competitions and challenges such as the Cambridge chemistry race and the chemistry Olympiad. Students visit local universities where they learn in high-tech laboratories. Students gain an invaluable sense of the steps they can take when they complete their studies.
What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders have developed a highly purposeful curriculum. Leaders have a strong ambition to improve the science and mathematics participation of young people in the region. Leaders work with local schools to promote science and mathematics subjects and the resulting career opportunities. Leaders strive relentlessly to produce future science and mathematics practitioners and leaders for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries.
Leaders and managers have planned logical and well-structured programmes. They ensure that students learn basic concepts of mathematics and science, before moving on to more complex and challenging tasks. Chemistry students study fundamental elements such as atomic structure, formula and equations at the start of the programme. Mathematics students learn the fundamental concepts of mathematics that they revisit and extend in further mathematics topics. As a result, students develop their knowledge and skills gradually over time.
From Ofsted's November 2023 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its April 2018 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
About
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form is a specialist maths and science sixth form with free school status located in Norwich, owned by the Inspiration Trust. It has the capacity for 480 students aged 16–19.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
1.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
B
Average grade
40.4
Points per entry
B
Best 3 A-Levels
40%
Achieving AAB+
Above average
Value added
293
A-Level students
96%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 5 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 244 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
33%
Top-third university
78%
Degree course
82%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 224 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form students achieve exceptional A-Level results
13 Aug 2026
Listen to the Inside the Apple Podcast!
11 Dec 2025
Celebrating the launch of Alumni Adventures
2 Dec 2025
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form achieves another set of phenomenal A-Level results
14 Aug 2025
Students Build Kit Car to Compete in F24+ Challenge
4 Jul 2025
A Joyous Farewell: Y13 Leavers BBQ and Assembly
15 May 2025
From Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School, with their latest published grades:
- Chestnut Nursery Norfolk Ltd. St. Giles - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted, 25 October 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Chapelfield Children's Day Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, 0.1 milesOfsted, 17 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- The Hamlet Centre Children's Service - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 18 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Little Egrets Nursery - Pre-school, 0.3 miles
- Little Squirrels Play Forest - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted, 20 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 81
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 17
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 81 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 17 serious and 63 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
106%
Over capacity
635 pupils
600 places
35 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
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.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
2.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
635
Total Pupils
371
Boys
264
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
35
Teachers
18.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,378
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School
What is Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School's Ofsted rating?
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in April 2018, it was rated Outstanding.
How big are the classes at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School?
Classes at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School average 10.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School?
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School has around 635 pupils on roll. 1% are eligible for free school meals.
How many road collisions happen near Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 81 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 17 serious and 63 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School?
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School is at The Old Fire Station, 30 Bethel Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)