Greyfriars Academy

Greyfriars Academy has shown significant improvement since its last inspection, moving from an inadequate grade to requiring improvement overall. The school now features a well-structured curriculum that emphasizes language development, although there are still areas where staff need further support and training to fully implement this new curriculum effectively. Behavior and attitudes among pupils are good, with a strong sense of safety and involvement in school activities. Overall, the school culture has positively shifted, and pupils are enthusiastic about their learning.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and are proud of their school.
• The curriculum is well-structured, focusing on important knowledge and skills.
• Strong emphasis on early reading with well-trained staff.
• Effective identification and support for pupils with SEND.
• Consistent focus on behavior improvement has enhanced attitudes towards learning.
• Robust personal development programs promote well-being and confidence.

Areas for Improvement

• Staff are still adjusting to the new curriculum and assessment methods, affecting pupil progress in some subjects.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Greyfriars Academy attended 94.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.5% of pupils at Greyfriars Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Greyfriars Academy had 15.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.1% of pupils at Greyfriars Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 4 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Greyfriars Academy received £9,092 and spent £9,338 for each of its 204 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £69,000 (£339 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of Unity Education Trust, income was £9,934 and spending £10,116 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in King'S Lynn And West Norfolk · Norfolk local authority: places and applications

Greyfriars Academy is part of Unity Education Trust, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• Highgate Infant School King'S Lynn
• King's Oak Academy King'S Lynn
• Churchill Park Complex Needs School King'S Lynn
• St Germans Academy King'S Lynn
• Magdalen Academy King'S Lynn
• Wimbotsham and Stow Academy King'S Lynn
• Beeston Primary School King'S Lynn
• Northgate High School Dereham
• Grove House Infant and Nursery School Dereham
• King's Park Infant School, Dereham Dereham

What is Greyfriars Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Greyfriars Academy is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Greyfriars Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Greyfriars Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Greyfriars Academy have?

Greyfriars Academy has 199 pupils on roll.

What age range does Greyfriars Academy cover?

Greyfriars Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Greyfriars Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 31% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Greyfriars Academy?

Greyfriars Academy is at London Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5PY.