Suffolk’s best secondary schools 2026

Trying to find the right school for your child in Suffolk? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2024/2025 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Suffolk.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Suffolk. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

Examiner-written GCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

Top secondary schools in Suffolk by GCSE % 9–7

Woodbridge School in Woodbridge is currently ranked #1 in Suffolk based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
1Woodbridge SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-58.9%----
2Ipswich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-57.5%----
3Royal Hospital SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-56.1%----
4Culford SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-49.8%----
5Ipswich High SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-45.3%----
6Framlingham CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-38.6%----
7St Joseph's CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-32.2%----
8Debenham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-30.2%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
9Northgate High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-28%GoodOutstandingGoodGood
10Saint Felix SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-27.8%----
11OneSchool Global UK Colchester CampusOther independent schoolMixed-27.6%----
12Hartismere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-27.1%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
13Finborough SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-26.5%----
14Bury St Edmunds County High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-25%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
15Sybil Andrews AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-22.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
16Centre Academy East AngliaOther independent special schoolMixed-22.2%----
17King Edward VI CEVC SchoolVoluntary controlled schoolMixed-22.2%----
18Thomas Mills High School & Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-22.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
19St Benedict's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21.8%----
20Kesgrave High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
21Thurston Community CollegeCommunity schoolMixed-20.4%----
22Farlingaye High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
23Copleston High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.1%----
24East Bergholt High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.5%----
25Stoke CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-18%----
26St Alban's Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-17.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
27Castle Manor AcademyAcademy converterMixed-17.3%----
28Thomas Gainsborough SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.6%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
29Stour Valley Community SchoolFree schoolsMixed-16.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
30Claydon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.2%----
31Hadleigh High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15%----
32Ormiston Endeavour AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.8%----
33Samuel Ward AcademyAcademy converterMixed-14.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
34Sir John Leman High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-14.7%----
35Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and MathematicsAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
36Ixworth High SchoolFree schoolsMixed-14.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
37Newmarket AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.8%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
38Westbourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.5%InadequateInadequateInadequateInadequate
39Ormiston Sudbury AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.7%Requires improvementGoodGoodRequires improvement
40Stradbroke High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.7%----
41Bungay High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
42Felixstowe SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
43Holbrook AcademyAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
44Stowupland High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
45Ipswich AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.9%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
46Breckland SchoolFree schoolsMixed-10.3%----
47Ormiston Denes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
48Stowmarket High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.6%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
49Stoke High School - Ormiston AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
50Chantry AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
51East Point AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.2%----
52Churchill Special Free SchoolFree schools specialMixed-7.1%----
53Mildenhall College AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.6%----
54Alde Valley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.5%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
55Beccles High SchoolFree schoolsMixed-5.1%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
56Pakefield High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-4.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
57Bramfield House SchoolOther independent special schoolBoys-0%----
58New Skill CentreOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
59On Track Education MildenhallOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
60Sir Bobby Robson SchoolFree schools specialMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
61The Ryes CollegeOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
62Wetheringsett Manor SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
63Woodbridge Road AcademyFree schools specialMixed-0%GoodOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

Note: Rankings use 2024/2025 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Suffolk

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Suffolk, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
Acorn Cottage The LodgeOther independent special schoolGirls------
Alde Valley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.5%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Barnardiston Hall Preparatory SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Beccles High SchoolFree schoolsMixed-5.1%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and MathematicsAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Bramfield House SchoolOther independent special schoolBoys-0%----
Breckland SchoolFree schoolsMixed-10.3%----
Broadlands HallOther independent special schoolBoys------
Bungay High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
Bury St Edmunds County High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-25%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
Cambian Dunbroch SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Castle EAST SchoolFree schools specialMixed--OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Castle Manor AcademyAcademy converterMixed-17.3%----
Centre Academy East AngliaOther independent special schoolMixed-22.2%----
Chalk HillAcademy special sponsor ledMixed--Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Chantry AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
Churchill Special Free SchoolFree schools specialMixed-7.1%----
Claydon High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.2%----
Compass Community School Aylward ParkOther independent special schoolMixed------
Copleston High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.1%----
Culford SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-49.8%----
Debenham High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-30.2%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
East Bergholt High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.5%----
East Point AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.2%----
Farlingaye High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Felixstowe International CollegeOther independent schoolMixed------
Felixstowe SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
Finborough SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-26.5%----
Framlingham CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-38.6%----
Gable EndOther independent special schoolMixed------
Hadleigh High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15%----
Hartismere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-27.1%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Hillside Special SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed--GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Holbrook AcademyAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
Ipswich AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.9%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
Ipswich High SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-45.3%----
Ipswich SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-57.5%----
Ixworth High SchoolFree schoolsMixed-14.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
Kesgrave High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
King Edward VI CEVC SchoolVoluntary controlled schoolMixed-22.2%----
Mildenhall College AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.6%----
Ness Point SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
New Skill CentreOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Newmarket AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-13.8%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
Northgate High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-28%GoodOutstandingGoodGood
Old Buckenham Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
On Track Education MildenhallOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
OneSchool Global UK Colchester CampusOther independent schoolMixed-27.6%----
Ormiston Denes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
Ormiston Endeavour AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-14.8%----
Ormiston Sudbury AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.7%Requires improvementGoodGoodRequires improvement
Orwell Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Pakefield High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-4.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
Priory SchoolAcademy special converterMixed------
Riverwalk SchoolAcademy special converterMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
Royal Hospital SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-56.1%----
Saint Felix SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-27.8%----
Samuel Ward AcademyAcademy converterMixed-14.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sir Bobby Robson SchoolFree schools specialMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sir John Leman High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-14.7%----
Sir Peter Hall SchoolFree schools specialMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
South Lee SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
St Alban's Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-17.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
St Benedict's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21.8%----
St Joseph's CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-32.2%----
Stoke CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-18%----
Stoke High School - Ormiston AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
Stone Lodge AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed--InadequateInadequateRequires improvementInadequate
Stour Valley Community SchoolFree schoolsMixed-16.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
Stowmarket High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-9.6%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
Stowupland High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Stradbroke High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.7%----
Summerhill SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Sunrise AcademyFree schools specialMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
Sybil Andrews AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-22.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Ashley SchoolAcademy special converterMixed------
The Bridge SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
The Ryes CollegeOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Thomas Gainsborough SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.6%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Thomas Mills High School & Sixth FormAcademy converterMixed-22.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
Thomas Wolsey Ormiston AcademyAcademy special converterMixed--GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Thurston Community CollegeCommunity schoolMixed-20.4%----
Warren SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
Westbourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.5%InadequateInadequateInadequateInadequate
Wetheringsett Manor SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Woodbridge Road AcademyFree schools specialMixed-0%GoodOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Woodbridge SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-58.9%----

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2024/2025 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Please note that Progress 8 scores were not published by the DfE for the 2024/25 academic year, as this cohort did not have Key Stage 2 prior attainment data due to pandemic-related assessment cancellations.

Some schools may also be missing data for GCSE 9–7 results or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Suffolk?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2024/2025 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Suffolk, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

Share this article

FAQs - best secondary schools in Suffolk

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Suffolk is Woodbridge School by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Suffolk County Council. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
Ofsted rates secondary schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding secondary schools excel in teaching quality, student behaviour, leadership, and outcomes.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Suffolk consistently score above +0.8.

Explore our GCSE study tools