Norwich secondary schools

[tangledzebra]

Hi all,

Posting here for traffic as I posted on mums net local board for Norwich but it’s quite quiet there.

I am looking to move to Norwich with my child who is in year 9. Does anyone have any recommendations for secondary schools? I have looked online and at ofsted but they don’t always capture the essence of a school so it would be good to gauge peoples opinions/real life experiences. I will be planning on visiting the schools as well.

i cannot afford private, I am non religious and would like a mixed state comprehensive. I am looking to move to NR2, NR3 postcode.

many thanks 🙏

@bikerqueen thank you, that’s really helpful. I am trying to arrange some school visits for next week but it’s been a bit of a frustrating process as I have to keep calling and no one is getting back to me- this is for about 5 schools. I’ll just keep trying.

Thank you everyone for replying

@tangledzebra Norwich IS lovely! And I think it's a great place for teenagers to grow up. Pretty much everywhere is walkable, it's big enough to have all the things you need, but not so big that it's overwhelming, and it just has a great feel to it. I really think CNS would be a great fit for your DC, but I know it'll be tricky. You mentioned NR2/3 as where you might be living, but NR4 would also put you in catchment. My DD is also in Yr9, so I know it's a difficult age to handle the move.

Honestly do DM me if you've got any questions because I know it's not like moving schools when DC are in infants/juniors & you get to know their teachers & the other parents.

@sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea thank you, it does feel completely different applying in year compared to applying in year 7. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that a suitable school place comes up.

im going to call the schools again next week and try to confirm a date to view as I spent this week just chasing and sending emails to them. Hopefully they will get back to me soon.

Our DC is at Jane Austen College, in Y7. It’s a mixed bag: I’m not very happy with some of the teaching (every week for English they hand in homework yet have never once had it returned marked). Our kid is fairly happy there — settled in quickly and has made good friends. Some subjects have teachers who clearly love what they do and that inspires the children. Other subjects, not so much.

The JAC rules are petty at times, e.g. must wear your blazer in the corridor, no matter how hot the day. There has also been a lot of upheaval due to Covid but all in all it’s okay. Not spectacular, but okay. We moved here from inner London where schools ranged from appalling to great but it would’ve been a complete lottery as to which one DC got into. Norwich secondary schools all seem relatively similar to each other by comparison.

@GertrudeBellTent my DC school has that rule about blazers so she is used to that, it’s so petty. They have to ask In class if they can take it off.. I was hoping for a more relaxed approach to uniform but it seems like silly rules wherever you go.

i just want DC to be happy so 🤞that’s what happens.

I noticed that a previous poster mentioned Sprowston having 1600 pupils - CNS isn't much smaller, they had a 9 form entry in 2019. CNS is a huge site, and if a child needs support beyond the superficial there isn't a great deal available.

You also need to know that ALL secondaries in Norwich are either academies or private, there are no state-owned secondaries at all.

Hewitt still has a big hangover from the bad feeling about its takeover by Inspiration. I don't know what the teaching is like except that last time I looked they didn't have the pupil numbers to fill the space.

Our 14yo goes to Framingham Earl - it's small - has no 6th form - and is super-supportive and nurturing. As we live in the city it does mean we have to do school run in the car but it's been worth it. We got in for special reasons, although we were just on the edge of catchment, but it's worth considering if you can make it work.

Hethersett also has no 6th form, but the head has ambitions to expand.

But really, its all about the feeling.

I knew that Hethersett wasn't for us when I was having to explain our child's SEN requirements to the SEN team at an open evening. I knew then I couldn't rely on them to know what to do for my child and it didn't fill me with confidence! Fram, on the other hand, got it immediately!