Lynn Grove Academy Review 2026: Academic Strength in Great Yarmouth

Standing as a cornerstone of the Gorleston community, Lynn Grove Academy combines a broad coastal catchment with academic results that consistently lead the local area. The school serves approximately 1,110 students aged 11 to 16, maintaining a steady reputation for disciplined learning and high expectations. As part of the Creative Education Trust, the academy benefits from a wider network of educational resources while retaining its specific identity as a high-performing Great Yarmouth secondary. The latest performance data reinforces this position, with the school ranking first among all secondaries in the Great Yarmouth area for GCSE outcomes.

The atmosphere at Lynn Grove Academy is defined by a sense of orderly purpose. The school buildings, situated on a spacious site in Gorleston, house a community where the Creative Education Trust's Knowledge Connected programme is central to daily life. This initiative encourages students to link their academic subjects to broader creative and practical skills. Principal Amy Brookes, who has led the academy since September 2023, oversees an environment focused on raising aspirations and driving performance.

The school's Christian character is inclusive rather than denominational, focusing on universal values of respect and service. This ethos is reflected in the calm movement between lessons and the structured approach to student leadership. Within the hallways, the motto "Small enough to care, big enough to be exciting" is put into practice through a strong house system and visible student leaders.

GCSE performance is a significant strength. In the most recent measurement period, the academy achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 45.9, which is exactly in line with the England average. More notably, the school's Progress 8 score of +0.17 indicates that students make more progress than their peers nationally from their starting points in Year 7.

Lynn Grove Academy ranks 2,010th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), and ranks 1st among secondaries in Great Yarmouth. This performance sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), reflecting a solid and reliable academic standard that outperforms many local alternatives. In the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), 15.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above, demonstrating a commitment to the core academic subjects.

The curriculum at Lynn Grove is structured to provide both breadth and depth. The academy places a strong emphasis on the EBacc suite of subjects, but also maintains a vibrant creative and technical offering. In the classroom, teaching is underpinned by the academy’s focus on cognitive science, helping students to retain information and apply it across different contexts.

Science and mathematics are particularly well-resourced, with the school utilising modern laboratory spaces and the recently updated library to support enquiry. Teachers have expert subject knowledge and use regular low-stakes testing to identify and address gaps in student understanding. This methodical approach ensures that students are well-prepared for the rigours of terminal examinations.

Support structures at Lynn Grove are organised through a year-group system, with each cohort overseen by a Head of Year and a team of tutors. This ensures that every student has a consistent point of contact who understands their individual progress and challenges. The academy has clear systems for managing behaviour, focusing on positive reinforcement alongside firm boundaries.

For students with special educational needs, the SEND team, led by a dedicated SENCO, provides targeted support both within mainstream classrooms and through smaller intervention groups. The latest Ofsted inspection, conducted in October 2023, rated the school Good, noting that pupils feel safe and that the school has created a positive culture around safeguarding.

Extracurricular life at the academy is diverse and well-attended. The Creative Education Trust’s focus ensures that the arts are well-represented, with regular drama productions and musical ensembles. Students can join the school choir or take part in various leadership roles including pupil ambassadors and prefects.

STEM: Innovation and Enquiry

The STEM programme is a highlight of the school's extracurricular offering. Students participate in the Formula 24 Greenpower racing project, where they design, build, and race electric cars. The academy also hosts a popular Robotics Club and enters teams into national mathematics challenges. These activities allow students to apply their classroom knowledge to complex, real-world engineering and logical problems.

Sport is equally prominent, with facilities including an astroturf area and a modern sports hall. Representative teams compete in football, netball, and athletics at both local and county levels. The school also offers the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, which is highly popular among Year 9 and 10 students.

As a state-funded academy, admissions are coordinated by Norfolk County Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed, reflecting its status as a top-ranked local choice. In the most recent admissions cycle, there were 422 applications for 232 places, meaning the school is significantly oversubscribed.

The academy’s admissions policy gives priority to looked-after children, siblings of current students, and those living closest to the school. Parents researching their chances of entry should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to the last distance offered.

Where Students Go Next

Although Lynn Grove does not have its own sixth form, the academy has established strong transition pathways to local post-16 providers. The majority of students progress to East Norfolk Sixth Form College or Great Yarmouth College (East Coast College).

The school provides a comprehensive careers programme starting in Year 7. This includes mock interviews, careers fairs, and 1-to-1 guidance sessions. By Year 11, students are well-prepared for the transition to A-levels, T-levels, or apprenticeships, with 90% of pupils staying in education or employment after Key Stage 4.

Fees & Financial Aid

This is a state-funded academy with no tuition fees. All core curriculum teaching, standard textbooks, and essential equipment are provided by the school.

Families may need to budget for:

• Standard school uniform and PE kit.
• Optional extracurricular trips or residential visits.
• Individual music tuition (subsidies may be available for families in receipt of Pupil Premium).
• Lunch costs (unless the student is eligible for Free School Meals).

The school day begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:10pm. The academy offers inclusive before-school and after-school provision, including a breakfast club and various enrichment activities. The site is accessible by local bus routes, and the school office is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm on most days (closing earlier at 2:30pm on Wednesdays).

• Significant Oversubscription: With a subscription proportion of 1.82, securing a spot at Lynn Grove Academy is competitive. Families living outside the immediate Gorleston area may find it difficult to gain entry under the distance criteria.
• No Internal Sixth Form: Students must transition to a new environment at age 16. While the school manages this transition well, families should research local colleges early in Year 10.
• Strong Focus on Discipline: The academy maintains a very structured environment with a clear uniform policy and strict behaviour expectations. This rigour contributes to the school's strong results but may feel formal to some students.

Lynn Grove Academy is an excellent choice for families in Great Yarmouth seeking a high-achieving, disciplined state secondary. Its status as the top-performing school in the local area is backed by solid progress data and a robust curriculum. Best suited to students who thrive in a structured environment and who want access to strong STEM and creative opportunities. The main challenge for families is navigating the oversubscribed admissions process.