King Edward VII Academy Review 2026: A Good-rated secondary and sixth form with visible momentum

A large, mixed 11 to 18 academy in King’s Lynn, King Edward VII Academy combines a substantial local intake with a sixth form that is clearly part of the school’s improvement narrative. The current principal, Darren Hollingsworth, joined in January 2024, and the leadership message is one of consistency, higher expectations, and rebuilding trust with families.

The physical setting matters here. The school’s historic building roots go back to the early twentieth century, designed by Basil Champneys, begun in 1903 and opened in 1906, and commissioned by William (later Sir) Lancaster. That heritage gives the site a recognisable identity in the area, rather than a generic “secondary campus” feel.

For families weighing it up, the headline is steady rather than spectacular: results sit below England average on the FindMySchool measures, but the most recent official inspection picture points to a school that has tackled behaviour and culture in a purposeful way, with clear next steps around attendance and SEND precision.

This is a school in transition, but not in a vague, marketing sense. The most recent formal picture is of a calmer, more ordered environment than in earlier years, with staff applying expectations consistently and pupils responding to that clarity. Alongside the “rules and routines” piece, there is a deliberate effort to build belonging, with sixth formers taking visible leadership roles, including involvement in house competitions and supporting younger pupils with reading.

The academy’s trust context is part of the story. King Edward VII Academy is part of Inspiration Trust, and the improvement approach described in official material leans on trust capacity, governance expertise, and a fast pace of change. That can matter for parents who want to understand whether school improvement is dependent on one charismatic leader, or supported by a wider system.

The building’s heritage also shapes the atmosphere. When a school has a Great Hall tradition and a site with architectural significance, events, assemblies, performances, and even routine milestones (awards evenings, leavers’ moments) tend to feel more substantial. This is not a guarantee of day-to-day quality, but it can be a real contributor to identity and pride, particularly in a town where school loyalty often runs across generations.

On the FindMySchool GCSE measures, the school ranks 3015th in England and 5th locally for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This sits below England average overall, aligned with the bottom 40% of schools in England on the percentile banding.

Attainment 8 is 39.5 and Progress 8 is -0.35, which indicates that, on average, pupils make less progress than pupils with similar starting points nationally. EBacc outcomes are also an area to watch, with 6.7% achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc, and an EBacc average point score of 3.67 (England figure: 4.08).

For sixth form, the FindMySchool A-level ranking is 1963rd in England and 2nd locally (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). At A-level, 3.09% of grades are A*, 10.49% are A, 19.75% are B, and 33.33% are A* to B.

What this typically means for families is that the academic experience can be perfectly sound for many students, but it may not yet deliver consistently strong outcomes across the full ability range. The more important question becomes fit: whether your child benefits from a structured, expectation-led setting, and whether the subjects and pathways on offer align well with their interests and post-16 plans.

Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to view these outcomes alongside nearby secondaries and sixth forms, including how progress measures differ.

The curriculum emphasis described in official reporting is on getting the basics right, with engaging, focused lessons and a clearer sense of ambition than in the past. There is also evidence of a whole-school approach to behaviour and classroom routines, which is often the foundation for improved learning time and stronger teaching consistency.

A key development point is SEND: the school is expected to become more precise in identifying needs and ensuring that teachers use that information consistently so pupils with SEND benefit fully from classroom adaptations.

For parents of children with additional needs, this is one of the most important areas to probe on a visit. Ask how needs are identified, how teachers are briefed, what “good support” looks like in practice across subjects, and how impact is checked.

At sixth form, there is a clear expectation that older students contribute, not only through leadership roles but through tangible support for younger pupils, including reading. That tends to strengthen the culture for both groups, giving sixth formers responsibility and younger pupils credible role models.

Where Students Go Next

For 2023 to 2024 leavers, 40% progressed to university, 7% to apprenticeships, 39% to employment, and 1% to further education. This points to a sixth form where university is a significant pathway, but not the only one, and where employment outcomes are also prominent.

On the most selective university route, the measured Oxbridge pipeline is small but present: 5 applications, 1 offer, and 1 acceptance (Cambridge recorded in the same measurement period). In a non-selective local sixth form context, even occasional Oxbridge success can be a useful signal that highly academic routes are supported when the student profile fits.

For families where apprenticeship routes matter, it is sensible to ask about the school’s employer links, careers programme, and how it supports technical pathways alongside A-level study.

Year 7 admission is coordinated through Norfolk County Council. For September 2026 entry, the published local timetable states applications opened on 11 September 2025, closed on 31 October 2025, and offers are released on 2 March 2026, with an appeals closing date of 27 March 2026.

Locally published information indicates a planned admission number of 230 for 2026 to 2027 entry. Oversubscription is handled through a priority order that includes children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, looked-after and previously looked-after children, siblings, children of staff (in specified circumstances), and aptitude places. Notably, the published oversubscription information refers to aptitude places in music and sport, each up to 5% of the planned admission number, and it also references named feeder schools before allocating remaining places.

Because admissions are coordinated, families should focus on two practical tasks early. First, understand how the school’s oversubscription priorities apply to your child. Second, use FindMySchool Map Search to check your home-to-school distance precisely, and to model how distance might interact with other priorities in the oversubscription rules.

Sixth form entry is typically a direct school application route, with open events and application windows usually running during the autumn term. Exact dates should be checked with the school, as they can vary year to year.

Pastoral systems look increasingly structured. Publicly available local information highlights a nurture offer and a mental health team approach that includes a qualified counsellor, mental health first aider or lead, and an emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA). It also references therapeutic play and speech and language support, which is a useful indicator that wellbeing support is more than a single staff member with a title.

Safeguarding is described as effective in the most recent official reporting.

Beyond safeguarding compliance, the wider point for parents is cultural: clearer expectations, more consistent behaviour routines, and a stronger sense of safety in daily life are usually interlinked.

Attendance is one of the key improvement priorities. If your child has a history of anxiety-based absence or other attendance challenges, ask detailed questions about early intervention, family liaison, and what support looks like before issues become entrenched.

Enrichment is positioned as an active part of school life, with a stated range of activities and sixth form leadership roles feeding into the lower school experience.

The implication for students is practical: if a school expects attendance, punctuality, and behaviour to tighten, it also needs positive “reasons to belong” outside lessons. Enrichment, leadership, and service roles often do that job.

There are also externally visible links and activities that help add specificity. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is referenced in post-16 pathway information associated with the school, and sport appears to have meaningful local connections, including youth football activity hosted at the site. A further example is a disability-inclusive cricket session (Super 1s) hosted at the academy site through Norfolk Cricket activity listings.

If you are evaluating sixth form, ask about the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and leadership development, both of which are frequently used to strengthen university and apprenticeship applications when delivered well.

Local information indicates inclusive before-school and after-school provision, which is useful for families managing commuting and work patterns.

Daily start and finish times are not consistently published in the accessible official sources used here, so families should confirm timings directly.

Transport practicality will depend on where you live in King’s Lynn and the surrounding villages. For older students, the key questions are less about the walk to primary, and more about safe cycling routes, bus reliability, and whether post-16 timetables create long gaps that need managed supervision on site.

• Outcomes sit below England average. The FindMySchool GCSE and A-level rankings place the school in the lower-performing band nationally. Families should weigh whether the current improvement trajectory is sufficient for their child’s ambitions, especially for higher prior attainment students.

• Attendance and SEND precision are explicit improvement priorities. If your child is vulnerable to absence or needs consistent classroom adaptations, ask for specifics about how attendance is improved and how SEND information is translated into daily teaching.

• Admissions priorities can be nuanced. With feeder schools and aptitude routes referenced in local admissions information, it is important to understand exactly which criteria apply to your child before relying on this option.

King Edward VII Academy is a large local secondary and sixth form with a Good inspection profile across all areas and a clear sense of momentum under relatively new leadership. It will suit families who want a structured, expectation-led school that is rebuilding culture, and who value a sixth form where leadership and enrichment play a visible role. The main caveat is that published outcomes remain below England average, so families with strongly academic pathways in mind should look carefully at subject-level fit, support for high attainment, and the school’s track record in the specific courses their child would take.