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Langley Senior School at Loddon
Langley Senior School at Loddon
Langley Senior School at Loddon
Langley Senior School at Loddon Norwich, Norfolk Visit
school
Langley Senior School at Loddon
Norwich
417 pupils, ages 13-18
Mixed
Day and Boarding

Langley Senior School at Loddon

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Our View

At first sight, Langley’s glorious Capability Brown-designed grounds and stunning Palladian architecture will certainly turn your head. But its refreshing focus on individuals rather than results and the promise to ‘know your child for who they are’ are what really make this rural Norfolk school stand out. Everyone is welcome here, and the outstanding academic and pastoral support means pupils thrive in an environment teed up for them to blossom.

Where?

When it comes to beautiful settings, Langley knocks it out of the park with a striking, tree-lined drive sweeping up to an 18th-century, red-brick mansion that presides over 110 acres of Grade I-listed parkland. Look closely and there are things that could be spruced up (a rolling refurbishment plan is seeing to that), but that’s somehow part of its charm. It’s located about 11 miles outside of Norwich in Loddon, a small market town on the River Chet. A fleet of school minibuses covers most of the county, with a morning and evening shuttle bus running between the senior and prep schools, which are about 23 miles apart.

Head

The very amiable and approachable Jon Perriss took up the headship in September 2019 from Christ’s Hospital School, where he’d been deputy head. A geography teacher, he still takes classes, although this year he has taken a break to focus on a new strategic vision for the school. This involves further uniting the prep and senior schools – no easy task with the different locations – but progress has already been impressive, and the way the sibling schools embody the ethos of the individual is seamless. As well as being a keen hockey player, Mr Perriss has become something of a podcast sensation with his discussions with guests about leadership and education (he has a Master’s in educational leadership).

Admissions

As the school is firmly non-selective – indeed, it’s an essential pillar here – pupils aren’t asked to jump through hoops to join. There is one Year 6 class, as well as Years 7 and 8, which mirror the prep school and is a legacy from before the two schools merged, but most pupils move from the prep in Year 9, which is currently full. Other pupils join from local primary and prep schools. In the sixth form, full and half-fee bursaries are available for two Nelson scholars and two Nelson fellows (the awards are named after Nelsonspirit, a charity dedicated to promoting leadership skills in young people), and there's also the Anthony Arthur Coward scholarship, which offers a fully-funded sixth form place.

Academics and destinations

The school proudly supports children of all abilities, with no compulsion to take 10 GCSEs or triple science, among other subjects. The support for the individual is admirable, with small classes (between 15 and 20) and an impressive digital infrastructure, with every pupil assigned a One 2 One device that’s a cross between a laptop and tablet.

The SEN provision is excellent, with a large team able to meet the needs of pupils with dyslexia, ASC and ADHD. A dedicated building at the centre of the school has plenty of space for individual attention, and the communication between the class teachers and SEN staff is exemplary.

The sixth form has its own standalone block with an ICT suite, study areas and café. A-levels, BTECs and EPQs are all on offer, with flexibility to do a mix of whatever suits. One of our guides was taking A-level art and drama, and the other was doing four A-levels – as economics clashed with maths, he was having one-to-one lessons with the economics teacher off-timetable. About a third of leavers head off to Russell Group universities, while others pursue degree apprenticeships and apprenticeships, and some go straight to a workplace. An excellent careers-mentoring programme ensures each pupil makes the right choice for them, with workshops, careers lunches and alumni and parents invited in as guest speakers.

Co-curricular

Langley has a formidable sporting reputation, with its own football academy headed by a former Norwich City player. From the age of 10 to 18, boys and girls receive a high level of training supported by professional coaches, nutritionists and physios alongside their academic schooling and regularly go on to join national clubs. Football throughout the school is played all year, as well as rugby, hockey, netball and cricket. Teams are often co-ed – both the 1st XI cricket team and U15 football team are mixed. The trophy cabinet is full of silverware – this year, the girls’ U15 football team are National Cup champions, the U14 rugby team are county champions and the U14 and U16 hockey teams are both ranked number one in Norfolk.

Drama is popular, with GCSE and A-level offered, as well as LAMDA qualifications. The 500-seat theatre hosts house drama competitions as well as the annual school show – this year’s production of Six was a resounding success. Music is strong too, with lots of opportunities for performing and many play in the CCF marching band. The school has good links in the music industry for work experience and offers music as an A- level. Art and photography are popular subjects – the light and spacious department is inspiring, as are the art teachers. Pupils’ artwork is displayed on six-foot canvases on the outside walls.

Pupils are encouraged to try something new for the end-of-day enrichment sessions. Model United Nations and CCF are popular, and every term there are new options. Volunteering is encouraged too. The Great Langley Beach Clean, one of the school’s Coronation events, saw pupils and parents going to their nearest beach and picking up litter. It was so successful it is now going to be an annual event.

Boarding

About 50 of the 420 pupils board. The boarding house is located in the main school building, with separate wings for boys and girls. Our guides told us they feel like a family, with all ages living together. Two lots of houseparents and numerous gap students look after everyone, putting on after-school activities and weekend events. The spacious grounds are open to them, as well as the gym and ICT suite. Part of the refurbishment programme is to double the space for boarders to 100.

School community

Langley’s award-winning pastoral care structure includes small tutor groups, fully involved heads of year, classroom-support workers and prefects who also act as pastoral mentors – meaning each child’s progress and wellbeing are looked after. A nurse runs the on-site medical centre, which is open every day, and there are dedicated rooms offering a ‘time to talk’ service, with a counsellor coming in regularly. The school also has a trained wellbeing dog for pupils to walk or just be with if they need time out.

Parents are an eclectic bunch – from farmers to local business owners – and are very supportive of the school.

And finally....

This school offers a different approach to the competitive environment of some public schools. Like the pupils it nurtures, it’s happy in its own skin and proud to focus on academic support and pastoral excellence.

Gallery See All

Sixth formers sitting at a table working together
The cast of Matilda all sitting on stage
Boy in safety goggles and a white lab coat performing a science experiment
Boy in navy sports kit playing football with goalposts and blue sky in the background
Pupils in olive green blazers chatting around a wooden table outside
Art class at Langley with art teacher in a bright blue top
External image of Langley Senior School
  • Academic results

    GCSE results
    A level results
    Download results as PDF
  • Fees and bursaries

    Day fees per term

    Year 7-
    Year 8 -
    Year 9 £6,425
    Year 10£6,425
    Year 11£6,425
    Year 12£6,425
    Year 13£6,425
    Boarding fees per term

    Year 7-
    Year 8 -
    Year 9 £12,725
    Year 10 £12,725
    Year 11£12,725
    Year 12£12,725
    Year 13£12,725




    Bursaries
    Langley offers means-tested financial assistance dependent on the level of parental income, ranging typically up to 50% of fees. Any family wishing to make an application for fee assistance should apply through the broader admissions process.

    The school's bursary pot totals between £1.9m and £2.5m; pupils do not need to win a scholarship to be considered for financial assistance. 

    Bursary contact:
    Registrar Amy Wright
    admissions@langleyschool.co.uk
  • Transport links

    School Transport
    Escorted train service to/from London
    School daily bus network

    Public Transport
    Nearest mainline train station: Norwich
    Journey time to London by train: 90 minutes
    Nearest international airport: Norwich (15 miles)


School Updates

  • Microsoft Showcase School

    Only a few institutions worldwide earn 'Microsoft Showcase School status' and Langley School is now one of them.
    Microsoft Showcase School
  • 10 Questions with Jon Perriss, head of Langley School

    10 Questions with Jon Perriss, head of Langley School
  • New world record for Icenians!

    Team HODL have completed the world’s toughest row and achieved a world record doing it! In just 38 days, the team rowed more than 2,800 miles from California to Hawaii. They secured a world record and finished first in the trios. This is the most incredible set of achievements by the three superstars, two of which are Langley alumni!
    New world record for Icenians!
  • WATCH: Langley School Promise

    WATCH: Langley School Promise
  • Year 11 Langley pupil nominated for a BAFTA award

    Year 11 pupil Benjamin, studying GCSE Computer Science, has been nominated for a BAFTA Young Games Developer award.
    Year 11 Langley pupil nominated for a BAFTA award
  • WATCH: Langley Stories - Sports Scholar Hermione

    WATCH: Langley Stories - Sports Scholar Hermione
  • WATCH: Langley Stories - Freya and Jacob

    WATCH: Langley Stories - Freya and Jacob
  • WATCH: Langley Stories - Zara and Peter

    WATCH:  Langley Stories - Zara and Peter
  • Langley performing arts cast meet global Six the Musical stars

    Back in February, performing arts triumphed at the annual Senior School performance, with a rendition of the hit musical Six. This May, the cast had a very special meet and great with the famous faces of the stage show.
    Langley performing arts cast meet global Six the Musical stars
  • See Langley Senior School & Sixth Form in our Senior Boarding Schools Guide

    See Langley Senior School & Sixth Form in our Senior Boarding Schools Guide
  • See Langley Senior School & Sixth Form in our All-through Schools Guide

    See Langley Senior School & Sixth Form in our All-through Schools Guide

Essentials

Address
Langley Park, Loddon, Norwich, Norfolk NR14 6BJ

Contact
marketing@langleyschool.co.uk
01508 520210

Website
langleyschool.co.uk

ISI Report

Fees

Term Dates

Bursaries


Open Days

Open days and how to visit View Open Days Register for open Day



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