Reepham High School and College Review 2026: Rural Norfolk 11 to 18 with a strong enrichment offer

A large 11 to 18 academy serving Reepham and a wide set of surrounding villages, this is a school where the day-to-day experience is shaped as much by enrichment and community as by exam measures. The 2025 inspection picture is consistently positive across all graded areas, including sixth form provision, and safeguarding is confirmed as effective.

Academically, outcomes sit close to the England midpoint on FindMySchool rankings for both GCSE and A-level measures. That positioning matters for families weighing “solid, dependable” against “highly selective”. The sixth form adds breadth, with published entry requirements and a defined application window for September 2026.

The school’s identity is strongly tied to being a “rural hub” for a wide catchment, with day-to-day routines that need to work for students arriving by bus and staying for activities. The published timetable points to a structured, predictable day, with a tutor slot built into the afternoon and buses leaving shortly after lessons end.

Leadership is current and clearly identified across official sources. The headteacher is Mr Jonathan Croucher, and formal governance information lists his headteacher appointment from September 2024. That timing is useful context because it means the most recent inspection reflects the school under this leadership.

The latest inspection narrative describes a calm working atmosphere where students value learning without disruption and where achievements are recognised across different domains, not only academic. That matters for fit. Families seeking a strictly results-first culture may find the balance more rounded here, while students who gain confidence through a mix of academic and practical success may find it motivating.

GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool context)

Reepham High School and College is ranked 2,169th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), and 16th among secondary schools in the Norwich local area. This places the school in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile) for GCSE performance on the FindMySchool measure.

At GCSE, the Attainment 8 score is 45, and the Progress 8 score is -0.06. A Progress 8 score close to zero generally indicates progress broadly in line with expectations, with a small negative score suggesting slightly below the midpoint. EBacc-related figures show 13.7% achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc measure provided.

A-level outcomes (FindMySchool context)

For A-level outcomes, the school is ranked 1,246th in England (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), and 9th in the Norwich local area, placing it again in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile) on this measure.

The grade profile shows 6.0% A*, 13.7% A, 28.4% B, and 48.2% A* to B. The England average for A* to B is 47.2%, so the A* to B figure is broadly similar on this measure.

What this means for families is straightforward. Results are credible and broadly typical in an England context on these measures, rather than indicating a highly selective intake. The strongest differentiator is therefore likely to be day-to-day experience and enrichment, plus sixth form support and routes after Year 11 and Year 13.

The curriculum is described in official evaluation as carefully sequenced from Year 7 upwards, with subject specialists breaking complex ideas into smaller steps and building knowledge cumulatively over time. In practice, for students this tends to translate into lessons where new content links explicitly to what has come before, and where teachers check understanding before moving on.

There are also clearly stated improvement priorities. The most recent inspection identifies that feedback is not always precise enough to address misconceptions in written work, and that some students who need the most support with reading do not always receive sharply targeted intervention. For parents, the implication is to ask specific questions at open events about literacy support, how reading needs are diagnosed, and how teachers ensure misconceptions are corrected quickly.

For sixth form students, the inspection evidence points to strong subject passion from teachers and very high-quality student work, alongside a note that student leadership roles exist but are limited. That suggests a sixth form that leans primarily on academic focus and independent study habits, with leadership opportunities available but not necessarily a defining feature.

Where Students Go Next

University, apprenticeships, and employment (2023/24 leavers)

For the 2023/24 leavers, the destinations picture is mixed and practical: 48% progressed to university, 7% to apprenticeships, 25% into employment, and 1% to further education (with the remainder in other recorded outcomes). The cohort size is 99.

This is a profile that tends to suit students who want clear routes and guidance, rather than assuming a single “default” pathway. A sizeable share going straight into employment makes careers education and work experience particularly important, and the most recent inspection explicitly references guidance for future choices and sixth form support with university applications.

Oxbridge pipeline

Oxbridge is not presented as the dominant destination pathway but it is present: 11 applications, 1 offer, and 1 acceptance in the measurement period provided. For prospective sixth formers, that suggests there is a route for the very highest academic achievers, but that the mainstream sixth form experience is aimed at strong outcomes across a broader range of university and employment options.

Enrichment-linked next steps

A distinctive feature is the school’s emphasis on experiences that broaden horizons and build confidence. The latest inspection describes an enrichment week valued by students, with examples including archaeological digs and learning to scuba dive along the Norfolk coast. This kind of programme can be particularly beneficial for students who learn best when classroom study is reinforced through practical, memorable experiences.

Year 7 entry, September 2026

Applications are coordinated through Norfolk County Council’s secondary transfer process. For September 2026 entry, the published timetable lists applications opening on 11 September 2025, closing on 31 October 2025, with offer day on 2 March 2026.

The school’s own admissions information indicates a September 2026 Year 7 intake of 150. Admissions criteria also reference an “area served by the school”, with allocation priorities that include looked-after children, those with an education, health and care plan naming the school, siblings (excluding sixth form), and distance as a tie-break when needed.

Open events are typically a key part of the decision process. For example, the school advertised an open evening in October 2025 for prospective Year 6 families, which gives a good indication of the usual timing for those events. Parents can use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check their precise home-to-school distance and understand how distance-based allocation could affect their chances, especially in years where places are tight.

Sixth form entry (Reepham College), September 2026

For sixth form, the route is direct to the college. Admissions for September 2026 open on 8 September 2025, with an application deadline of 5 December 2025.

Published entry requirements for A-level study include at least seven GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths, with some subjects having additional requirements. The college admissions policy also sets out that applications are welcomed from students outside the 11 to 16 school, with an admission number for external candidates expressed as 35% of total capacity.

A key reassurance for many families is safeguarding, and this is the point where official confirmation carries real weight. The 7 and 8 May 2025 Ofsted inspection report confirms safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Beyond safeguarding, the most recent inspection evidence supports a picture of consistent behaviour expectations and staff equipped to respond when standards slip, which helps create a calm learning environment. Inclusion is also a material part of the school’s day-to-day work. The inspection notes that pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities are identified quickly, information is shared with staff, and most teaching reflects that guidance, while also flagging that adaptations are not consistently sharp enough for all pupils. For families of children with SEND, that combination suggests it is worth asking specifically how interventions are tailored, and how teachers are supported to adapt consistently across subjects.

This is an area where Reepham feels unusually specific, rather than relying on generic lists.

Enrichment week and learning beyond lessons

The inspection evidence highlights an enrichment week that students value highly, with examples including archaeological digs and scuba diving experiences connected to the Norfolk coast. The educational implication is strong: students gain confidence in unfamiliar settings, and curriculum topics become more tangible. For some learners, that can be the difference between passively absorbing information and actively retaining it.

Clubs and activities with named options

The school publishes club information that includes clearly named activities. Examples from a recent programme include the Allotment Project, Big Bang Lab (Science), Music Tech Club, Vocal Ensemble, Brass Group, Lego Club, Chess and Puzzle Club, and a Student Diversity and Equity Committee. The benefit for students is that there are both creative and technical options, plus groups that support belonging and representation, not only performance.

Academic and sixth form facilities

For post-16, the college highlights a Learning Resource Centre with computers, alongside specialist spaces such as a media, editing and ICT suite and modern science laboratories. For sixth formers, that kind of infrastructure matters because it supports independent study, coursework-heavy subjects, and practical science without relying solely on classroom time.

Curriculum Enhancement Week dates

The school has already published dates for Curriculum Enhancement Week for Years 7 to 9 in July 2026, which signals that enrichment is planned at calendar level rather than being ad hoc.

The published day structure runs from 08:45 to 15:25, with five teaching periods and a scheduled tutor time. Buses are shown as departing at 15:35, which is a helpful indicator for families managing rural transport.

There is no nursery provision. For wraparound care, the school’s published materials focus more on the school day timetable than on before and after-school childcare, so families who need formal wraparound provision should check directly with the school about current availability and eligibility.

• Midpoint academic profile. The FindMySchool rankings place both GCSE and A-level outcomes in line with the middle 35% of schools in England. That can be a strong fit for many students, but those seeking a strongly selective academic culture should compare local alternatives carefully.

• Literacy and precision of feedback. Recent official evaluation identifies that misconceptions in written work are not always addressed quickly or precisely enough, and that reading support for the weakest readers is not consistently targeted. This is worth probing if literacy is a known weakness for your child.

• SEND consistency. Identification and information-sharing are described as strengths, but classroom adaptations are not consistently well matched to individual barriers. Families with SEND needs should explore how subject teachers are supported to adapt day-to-day.

• Intake size shift. Published admissions information shows a Year 7 intake of 150 for September 2026 (compared with 162 for September 2025). Changes in intake can affect class sizes, option blocks, and staffing patterns over time.

Reepham High School and College is a well-organised 11 to 18 school that places real emphasis on enrichment alongside a steady academic offer. The most recent official evaluation is consistently positive across all graded areas and confirms safeguarding as effective.

Best suited to students who benefit from clear routines, a calm learning environment, and a broad mix of opportunities, including practical and experiential learning. The most important diligence for parents is to ask detailed questions about literacy support and consistency of SEND adaptations, especially if those are key needs.