Acle Academy
Academy converter · 709 pupils
90% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.9
Academy sponsor led
Downham Market Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,329of 1,567 places
- Free school meals
- 27.0%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 201
- Ofsted
- Good, 26 April 2022Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Downham Market Academy (URN 139204, until 1 November 2017).
What the data says
Of the 174 pupils who finished Year 11 at Downham Market Academy in 2023, 26% stayed on in Downham Market Academy’s own sixth form (Norfolk average 33%), 48% went to a further education college and 6% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 46 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 39% went to university (Norfolk 28%, England 37%), and 11% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 43.8 against 46.1 across England and 45.2 in Norfolk, with 35% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C+, below the England average of B-; 4% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Sociology and History.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Norfolk and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Downham Market Academy | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 174 | 8,553 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 90% | 92% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 78% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 26% | 33% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 2% | 7% | 13% |
| — further education college | 48% | 43% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 4% | 3% |
| Employment | 6% | 4% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 5% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Downham Market Academy | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 46 | 7,453 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 78% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 39% | 28% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 11% | 13% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 35% | 36% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 11% | 16% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Downham Market Academy | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 43.8 | 45.2 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 45% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 59% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 24% | 43% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.87 | 4.05 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 24% | 25% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 34.6 | 34.1 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 46.6 | 48.8 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 9% | 12% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 201 | 100% | 89% | 4% | 20% | 62% |
| Combined Science | 201 | 100% | 65% | 11% | 9% | 61% |
| Mathematics | 201 | 100% | 88% | 14% | 22% | 68% |
| English Literature | 201 | 100% | 86% | 4% | 21% | 60% |
| Geography | 134 | 67% | 41% | 16% | 25% | 57% |
| History | 44 | 22% | 41% | 14% | 26% | 41% |
| French | 34 | 17% | 18% | 68% | 29% | 94% |
| Fine Art | 30 | 15% | 9% | 43% | 28% | 100% |
| Spanish | 29 | 14% | 19% | 17% | 27% | 79% |
| Drama | 23 | 11% | 7% | 13% | 27% | 78% |
| Design and Technology | 17 | 8% | 11% | 18% | 23% | 65% |
| Physical Education | 16 | 8% | 11% | 25% | 24% | 94% |
| Film Studies | 14 | 7% | 1% | 21% | 20% | 64% |
| Ancient History | 12 | 6% | 0% | 8% | 37% | 50% |
| Computer Science | 10 | 5% | 13% | 40% | 30% | 60% |
| Media Studies | 9 | 4% | 4% | 22% | 20% | 89% |
| Music | 7 | 3% | 5% | 14% | 33% | 57% |
| Religious Studies | 6 | 3% | 31% | 17% | 32% | 83% |
| Turkish | 4 | 2% | 0% | — | 71% | — |
| Portuguese | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 50% | — |
| Arabic | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
| Latin | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 74% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 69 | 100% | — |
| Engineering Studies | 52 | 100% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 37 | 100% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | 33 | 92% | — |
| Health Studies | 16 | 44% | — |
| Tourism | 14 | 39% | — |
| Additional Mathematics FSMQ | 13 | 36% | — |
| Music Technology (Electronic) | 7 | 19% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Downham Market Academy | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 95 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 36 | 3,184 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 32.47 | 33.65 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 4% | 15% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 16 | 44% | 23% |
| Sociology | 10 | 28% | 13% |
| History | 8 | 22% | 13% |
| Geography | 7 | 19% | 10% |
| Mathematics | 7 | 19% | 31% |
| Politics | 6 | 17% | 6% |
| Chemistry | 6 | 17% | 17% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| Physical Education | — | — | 3% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Biology | — | — | 20% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
| English Language | — | — | 4% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| Film Studies | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 11 | 31% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma at Level 3 | 8 | 22% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Norfolk
Alderman Peel High School
Academy converter · 606 pupils
76% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.4
Attleborough Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 976 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.4
Aylsham High School
Foundation school · 1,138 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.0
Broadland High Ormiston Academy
Academy converter · 725 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.8
Caister Academy
Academy sponsor led · 657 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.4
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.