The Wherry School, Norwich
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
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
30.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 29% to 11%. Maths has declined from 14% to 0%. Writing has remained stable at around 0%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
134%
Over capacity
134 pupils
100 capacity
34 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Norwich
Admissions Demand - Norfolk
Places available
9,550
Applications
8,636
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Secondary admissions across Norfolk (2025/26)
Inspection History(102)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.69486%
Overall absence
27.5%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Wherry School
Edith Cavell Academy and Nursery
Tuckswood Academy
Lakenham Primary School
The Free School Norwich
Bignold Primary School and Nursery
Trowse Primary School
Eaton Primary School
Colman Infant School
Avenue Junior School
Charles Darwin Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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