The Wherry School, Norwich
The Wherry School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Norwich. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 7 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Wherry School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades The Wherry School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Expected standard. "The school prioritises basic knowledge in the core areas of English, mathematics and science."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has risen over the last 4 years."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school has a well-planned curriculum that builds up from class-based learning to specialist secondary teaching."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils join the school at a wide variety of ages and points during the school year."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of their school and have correctly identified the next priorities for their work."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an approach of 'unconditional positive regard'."
Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Most pupils leave the school at the end of Year 11."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff can teach pupils to write extended answers across the curriculum to raise pupils' achievement"; "Leaders should ensure that support staff are always deployed effectively to support pupils' learning".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Wherry School are Harford Manor School, Norwich (0.3 miles, Good); The Clare School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); The Parkside School, Norwich (1.4 miles, Outstanding); and Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk (1.4 miles, Good, selective).
Harford Manor School, NorwichThe Clare SchoolThe Parkside School, NorwichRed Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college.
Who goes there
30.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at The Wherry School has an education, health and care plan (134 of 134 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Wherry School has a resourced provision for autism: 100 places, 110 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Abbot Road (opposite), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 212 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Wherry School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post 16 provisionExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at The Wherry School
Pupils are safe and well cared for. They experience a highly individualised curriculum and support. This enables pupils to become independent young adults and achieve academically. The school works closely with families to understand pupils' previous schooling experiences and strategies that work well. This extends to encouraging pupils to attend school regularly. Most do, although the school is ambitious to further increase some pupils' attendance. Pupils enjoy their learning. Many talk with great interest about their favourite learning, such as studying and comparing different historical periods. The school adapts learning well to meet different pupils' needs. Leaders identify and fill gaps in learning. As a result, most pupils leave the school at the end of Year 11 with qualifications, ready for college or sixth-form study. Some students continue to work on GCSEs into Year 12. The school has also developed innovative internships with a local employer to help older students move from education into employment. Pupils learn about the effects of their autism on their brains and bodies. They also learn a wide range of strategies to help them to be calm and cope with unsettling situations. The school is tenacious in keeping going with every single pupil, no matter how challenging their behaviour or difficulties engaging in learning. Pupils build up learning in tiny, manageable chunks. This is highly effective, and many of the older pupils are now confident, able to work with others and cope when things change or go wrong. If pupils are engaging in behaviour that could be considered as bullying, the school deals with this effectively. Pupils benefit from a range of other activities that enrich the curriculum, such as taking part in poetry slams. They access a wide range of interesting physical education activities, from cricket to water sports. The youngest pupils particularly enjoy their weekly swimming sessions.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that all staff can teach pupils to write extended answers across the curriculum to raise pupils' achievement.
- Leaders should ensure that support staff are always deployed effectively to support pupils' learning.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 14 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Wherry School excels at helping pupils with autism and complex needs feel valued and safe while making real academic progress. Teachers tailor learning to each child's individual needs, breaking lessons into small, achievable steps, and teaching pupils practical skills for managing their emotions and behaviour. The school's commitment to every pupil is remarkable - many children who arrive unable to work with others leave as confident, independent young people ready for college, work or further study.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe and valued, with staff using 'unconditional positive regard' to help them make fresh starts
- Strong focus on teaching pupils to understand their autism and manage their emotions, resulting in calm, focused learning
- Individualised curriculum that builds from class-based learning to specialist secondary teaching, with particular strength in phonics and reading
- Impressive progress for many pupils who move from working individually to working independently in groups
- Innovative post-16 provision including supported internships that have led to paid employment
Areas for Improvement
- Writing instruction needs improvement - pupils are not consistently taught how to write extended answers or given enough practice writing at length
- Support staff could have more structured roles during direct teaching time rather than just during activities
- Attendance, while in line with similar schools, could be higher - leaders recognise this and are working to improve it
- Primary enrichment programme is less extensive than secondary - more trips and activities could be offered to younger pupils
- Post-16 GCSE resits are successful for some students but not all
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre trips, sports events, holiday club, café run by sixth form students, workplace activities, supported internships with local employers, visits to local sixth forms and colleges
The Wherry School is a special school for pupils with autism and other special educational needs. It provides a highly individualised curriculum with strong support for pupils' wellbeing and academic progress.
At a Glance
30.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 29% to 11% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 14% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Wherry School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Wherry School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Wherry School 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
- 28
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 19 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle.
5 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
134%
Over capacity
134 pupils
100 places
34 pupils over capacity
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.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
134
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Wherry School has a resourced provision for autism: 100 places, 110 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
134
Total Pupils
94
Boys
40
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
36
Teachers
3.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,379
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.7%
Overall absence
27.5%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Wherry School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Wherry School
What are GCSE results like at The Wherry School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Wherry School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 22.1. 6% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Wherry School's Ofsted rating?
The Wherry School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Wherry School?
No fixed boundary. When The Wherry School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Wherry School?
The Wherry School has around 134 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Wherry School have specialist SEN provision?
The Wherry School has a resourced provision for autism: 100 places, 110 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at The Wherry School?
11.7% of sessions were missed at The Wherry School in 2024/25. 27.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Wherry School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming The Wherry School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near The Wherry School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 19 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle. 5 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 Wherry School?
The Wherry School is at 280 Hall Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2GB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)