The school was first formed as Hockwold and Methwold Community School in September 2011 from the merger of Hockwold Primary School and Methwold High School. Methwold High School was built in 1957 and officially opened on 28 April 1958 by Col. Sir Bartle Edwards. Records suggest that in 1939 children who did not pass the exam to go to Downham Market Grammar School stayed at the Primary School until they were 14 years old. Hockwold and Methwold Community School was converted to academy status and was renamed the 'Iceni Academy' in January 2013. Today the school, which celebrated its 60th birthday last year, continues to operate over the two original school sites. with the Hockwold site accommodating the primary department of the school and the Methwold site accommodating the secondary department of the school. The Academy received its first-ever "Good" rating in July 2016 and is now growing at a rate of over 10% per year. In 2018 the Academy was recognised for its work to bring the world into the classroom with an award from the British Council.
Location
The two sites are six miles apart with the Hockwold site accommodating the primary department of the school and the Methwold site accommodating the secondary department of the school. In all, the school serves the largest rural catchment in Norfolk, and each department is smaller than average for that category of school.
The Academy has a connection with the privately funded, Thetford Grammar School whereby at least one student per academic year is offered a funded scholarship to study for A-levels for two years. This is funded, in part, via the Banham Scholarship. In September 2019 three students joined Thetford Grammar School on scholarships from Iceni Academy.
Via a partnership with Norwich School Iceni Academy offers students Mandarin lessons, focusing on the culture of China as well as the language, to all Key Stage 3 students. There is also a lunchtime Mandarin club for staff and students.
Extra-curricular activities
As part of the Cadet Expansion Programme Iceni Academy was approved to set up a Combined Cadet Force which is affiliated with the British Army. They started parading in September 2019 with an initial group of 30 cadets.
