An oversubscribed academy has been accused of trying to be a 'School of Rock' after it emerged it had been prioritising musically gifted applicants.

Officials have rapped Hethersett Academy over an admissions policy which means pupils with musical talent are more likely to get into the school.

The Inspiration Trust school is among the most oversubscribed in Norfolk which has seen it at the centre of a row over admissions.

It also has its own musical scholarship, which is available to 23 pupils each year, for which applicants have to take part in X Factor-style auditions.

After changes to its admissions policy this year sparked government officials to investigate, it is now facing accusations of trying to be Norfolk's own 'School of Rock'.

The investigation was sparked after the academy adopted Eaton Primary School as a named feeder earlier this year.

The move led to fears that pupils from another of its feeder schools - Mulbarton Primary - would miss out on places in the outstanding-rated school.

Then, after almost 40 Mulbarton pupils missed out on their chosen secondary schools, the case was referred to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

Fears were expressed at the time that Eaton pupils would be given an unfair advantage over Mulbarton - despite it having other schools closer.

Officials investigating the school found insufficient evidence to back this claim - but did express concerns about the musical scholarship.

It found that when the school is oversubscribed, children with musical abilities are being given higher priority than both feeder schools involved in the row.

This, the officials say, falls foul of admission rules and will have to be changed.

An Inspiration Trust spokeswoman said: "A full audit of the Hethersett Academy admission policy has been carried out.

"As a result, some of the wording and processes of our musical scholars' scheme will be amended for the 2024 admissions process."