Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #1 in Suffolk public Top 8% UK

Debenham High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Simon Martin

corporate_fareDEBENHAM HIGH SCHOOL

location_onStowmarket, IP14 6BL

language Visit Website phone 1728860213

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

681

trending_up

Attainment 8

55.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#1 in Suffolk

#424 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Debenham High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Stowmarket, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

Debenham High School is an academy converter in Stowmarket, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of DEBENHAM HIGH SCHOOL. The school has approximately 699 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 55.7, placing the school #1 in Suffolk and #424 of 3,216 nationally. 68.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 30.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

55.7

Grade 5+ E&M

68.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)30.0%

Entering EBacc26.80%

EBacc APS4.74

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.76

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19.30%

EBacc APS4.55

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS4.60

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.59

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS4.67

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.69

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS5.03

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

58.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42%

EBacc APS5.24

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

02 March 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

14 February 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

07 January 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2023-03-02

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2008-01-22

Section 5 RTI Historic EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(3 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 699 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	699	3	0.4%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	702	14	2.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	688	6	0.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	687	6	0.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	683	23	3.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	681	6	0.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	681	14	2.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	681	15	2.2%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	679	8	1.2%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	677	14	2.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	677	8	1.2%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	670	3	0.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	670	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	668	7	1.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	672	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	672	8	1.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	673	10	1.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	672	3	0.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	675	7	1.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	676	6	0.9%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	676	4	0.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	677	12	1.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	677	2	0.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	679	3	0.4%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	679	8	1.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	679	8	1.2%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 9 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree62%

agree31%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree43%

agree42%

disagree10%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree52%

agree16%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable25%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree56%

agree28%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree69%

agree25%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree31%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree66%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree33%

disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree71%

agree25%

disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree61%

agree28%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Hartismere School

Outstanding

location_on Eye, IP23 7BL

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bury St Edmunds County High School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Benedict's Catholic School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RH

emoji_events #4 in LA

Northgate High School

Good

location_on Ipswich, IP4 3DL

emoji_events #5 in LA

Sybil Andrews Academy

Good

location_on Bury St. Edmunds, IP32 7QB

emoji_events #6 in LA

Kesgrave High School

Good

location_on Ipswich, IP5 2PB

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Suffolk arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy

Kesgrave High School