⌘ K
Overview
SCHOOL PROFILE

Norman Cornish Academy

Not applicable Academy special converter URN 151483
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 75 Published school capacity
Capacity used 85.3% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 16 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest graded inspection

5 December 2023
Latest published outcome Requires improvement
OEIF
Quality of education Requires improvement
Behaviour & attitudes Requires improvement
Personal development Requires improvement
Leadership & management Requires improvement
Published 31 January 2024 View Ofsted record
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Academy special converter
Phase Not applicable
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority County Durham
Trust HORIZONS SPECIALIST ACADEMY TRUST
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 64 64 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 12 18.8% of pupils
Male pupils 52 81.3% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

78.1%
53.3 pts above England
School 78.1%
County Durham 32.2%
North East 32.0%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

1.6%
18.7 pts below England
School 1.6%
County Durham 4.7%
North East 10.0%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.0%
1.0 pts below England
School 0.0%
County Durham 0.5%
North East 0.9%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
95.3%
61
White and Black African
3.1%
2
White and Black Caribbean
1.6%
1
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 100.0% 64 of 64 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
County Durham 22.4%
North East 22.6%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 64 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Social, emotional & mental health 50
Autistic spectrum disorder 5
Specific learning difficulty 3
Moderate learning difficulty 2
Speech, language & communication 2
Other difficulty or disability 1

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open not applicable schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

85.3% 5.6 pts above England
Norman Cornish Academy
85.3%
County Durham
92.8%
North East
88.8%
England
79.8%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information