The Wherry School

  • Special
  • Free school
  • Ages 4 to 19
Report card: Expected standard

280 Hall Road, Norwich, NR1 2GBOpen in maps

The Wherry School is a special school in Norwich for ages 4 to 19. It is one of the 453 schools in Norfolk. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in April 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 14 April 2026, report published 10 June 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Expected standard
Achievement
Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Expected standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Post-16 provision
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

Read the full Ofsted report

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 April 2026

Pupils are safe and well cared for. They experience a highly individualised curriculum and support. This enables pupils to become independent young adults and achieve academically. The school works closely with families to understand pupils' previous schooling experiences and strategies that work well. This extends to encouraging pupils to attend school regularly. Most do, although the school is ambitious to further increase some pupils' attendance. Pupils enjoy their learning. Many talk with great interest about their favourite learning, such as studying and comparing different historical periods. The school adapts learning well to meet different pupils' needs. Leaders identify and fill gaps in learning. As a result, most pupils leave the school at the end of Year 11 with qualifications, ready for college or sixth-form study. Some students continue to work on GCSEs into Year 12. The school has also developed innovative internships with a local employer to help older students move from education into employment. Pupils learn about the effects of their autism on their brains and bodies. They also learn a wide range of strategies to help them to be calm and cope with unsettling situations. The school is tenacious in keeping going with every single pupil, no matter how challenging their behaviour or difficulties engaging in learning. Pupils build up learning in tiny, manageable chunks. This is highly effective, and many of the older pupils are now confident, able to work with others and cope when things change or go wrong. If pupils are engaging in behaviour that could be considered as bullying, the school deals with this effectively. Pupils benefit from a range of other activities that enrich the curriculum, such as taking part in poetry slams. They access a wide range of interesting physical education activities, from cricket to water sports. The youngest pupils particularly enjoy their weekly swimming sessions.

What the school should improve

  • Leaders should ensure that all staff can teach pupils to write extended answers across the curriculum to raise pupils' achievement.
  • Leaders should ensure that support staff are always deployed effectively to support pupils' learning.

Read the full Ofsted report

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

9 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 62 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score94

94, 12 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score86

86, 19 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score91

91, 14 below the England average of 105.

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

18 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score26.1

26.1, 20 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths11.1%

11.1%, 34.3 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths33.3%

33.3%, 31.5 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score2.09

2.09, 2 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

134 pupils on roll, with places for 100

Eligible for free school meals30.6%

30.6%, 4.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language5.2%

5.2%, 16.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Wherry School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Harford Manor School, Norwich0.3 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
The Clare School1 mileOfsted: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
The Parkside School, Norwich1 mileOfsted: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
Red Balloon Educational Trust-Norfolk1 mileOfsted: GoodNot published
Eaton Hall Specialist Academy1 mileOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Free schools special
Sector
Free school
Trust
THE WHERRY SCHOOL TRUST
Age range
4 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Miss Rachel Quick
Phone
01603629440
Website
thewherryschool.co.uk
Address
280 Hall Road, Norwich, NR1 2GB
Local authority
Norfolk
URN
144769

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.