King's Lynn Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 June 2026

Pupils enjoy coming to this friendly, caring school. They know that they will receive a warm welcome each morning. Pupils respect that the staff take time to know them as individuals. This helps pupils to develop a sense of security and belonging. There remains a family feel to this growing school. Positive relationships between pupils and staff are abundant. These are forged from before pupils transition into the school in Year 7 and grow from then on. Pupils can see how the standard of teaching has improved. Pupils respond to this increased level of expectation with a keenness to learn. While pupils know that there remains variability across different subjects, this is reducing. Most pupils work hard. They want to succeed and are determined to exceed their teachers’ high aspirations. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. They flourish with the support they receive in class and in specialist spaces. Pupils who attend the specialist resource base thrive. Many of these pupils have struggled with education in the past. However, they now enjoy support and a curriculum that re-engages their excitement for learning. Pupils are securing key knowledge well. However, published outcomes show that in recent years pupils have not achieved as well as they could. While the situation is improving, historically the school has failed to help pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, achieve the qualifications they need. Pupils behave well. Learning mostly proceeds without disruption. Around the site, impacted by extensive building work, pupils move sensibly and with purpose. Bullying is rare. Pupils have confidence that staff will deal with any incidents swiftly. The extensive personal development programme helps pupils to understand their local community. They develop key characteristics, such as respect and tolerance. This prepares them well for life in modern Britain. Pupils value the wide offer to broaden their experiences. An offer of arts and crafts, sport, theatrical performance and general interest clubs is enthusiastically taken up.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that teachers have the expertise to strengthen pupils' knowledge of reading, writing and communication, in order to support them to achieve more highly.
• Leaders should ensure that they continue to improve the provision for disadvantaged pupils and use the pupil premium grant with more precision to help these pupils achieve well.
• Leaders should ensure that staff have the knowledge to accurately check what pupils have understood and use this to provide necessary support or move pupils on when they are ready.
• Leaders should ensure that their quality assurance checks provide precise and detailed information that can be used to secure rapid and sustainable improvement.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)