The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold, Thetford
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Thetford, part of Grace Schools. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 17 schools in Thetford with published results, and 1,036th of 14,452 across England. It was 76% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold in detail
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to The Norman Church of England Primary. We are a small, close-knit, family-centered primary school, situated in the beautiful village of Northwold. Alongside our primary school, we also have an on-site 20-place Nursery which caters for children as young as 2."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and swimming.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold are Duchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary School (2 miles, Requires improvement, 53% reading, 60% maths); Gooderstone Church of England Primary Academy (3.3 miles, Good, 40% reading, 30% maths); Mundford Church of England Primary Academy (3.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 77% maths); and All Saints Academy (3.7 miles, Good, 93% reading, 100% maths).
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Duchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary SchoolGooderstone Church of England Primary AcademyMundford Church of England Primary AcademyAll Saints Academy
The trust
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold is one of 38 schools run by Grace Schools, an academy trust.
Who goes there
1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 24 pupils (23.8%) received SEN support and 5 (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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Demand Responsive Transport Area, 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often drug offences, violence and sexual offences and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
21.8%
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 improved from 67% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 60% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 60% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.2
Avg class size
14.5
Infant (KS1)
21.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
From The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold 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)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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
Your chances of a place at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
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What the report includes for The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold for 2015 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
76%
Available places
80 pupils
105 places
25 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thetford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thetford
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(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
24
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
28.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
101
Total Pupils
52
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
20.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,362
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,000
Per pupil
£639k
Total funding
£35k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.3%
Overall absence
23.4%
Persistent absence
77
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
Questions parents ask about The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold
What are SATs results like at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
Of the pupils at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 92% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold's Ofsted rating?
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
No fixed boundary. When The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
Classes at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold average 20.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold has around 101 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
6.3% of sessions were missed at The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold in 2024/25. 23.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold 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 The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold?
The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold is at School Lane, Northwold, Thetford, Norfolk, IP26 5NB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)