Ofsted: Outstanding

The Ashley School

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

personMr Thomas Ward

corporate_fareTHE ASHLEY SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST

location_onLowestoft, NR32 4EU

language Visit Website phone 1502565439

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

158

trending_up

Attainment 8

0.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#67 in Suffolk

#4,589 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

The Ashley School is a Academy special converter school in Lowestoft, serving ages 7-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

The Ashley School is an academy special converter in Lowestoft, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 7-16. It is part of THE ASHLEY SCHOOL ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 189 pupils on roll, of whom 56% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.6, placing the school #67 in Suffolk and #4,589 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 8.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.9 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

0.6

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.00

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

1.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.04

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.46

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.02

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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

95%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 57%

Reading0% LA 73%

Writing0% LA 68%

Maths0% LA 69%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%England 61%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 54%England 60%

Reading0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-16.5

Read

LA 0.0

-19.4 to -13.6

-13.7

Write

LA -0.4

-16.5 to -10.9

-14.4

Maths

LA -0.6

-17.1 to -11.6

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%England 65%

Reading0% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-14.5

Read

LA -0.6

-18.4 to -10.7

-15.1

Write

LA -0.7

-18.6 to -11.5

-15.1

Maths

LA -1.1

-18.5 to -11.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%

Reading0% LA 73%

Writing0% LA 74%

Maths0% LA 71%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-10.1

Read

LA -0.4

-14.3 to -5.9

-9.8

Write

LA -0.5

-13.8 to -5.8

-11.7

Maths

LA -1.0

-15.5 to -7.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 May 2023

Inspection Report

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15 November 2017

Inspection Report

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01 April 2014

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-11-15

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-04-01

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-03-10

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

1.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.6%(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 189 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.6%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	189	3	1.6%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	188	8	4.3%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	167	6	3.6%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	167	8	4.8%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	167	9	5.4%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	160	3	1.9%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	158	1	0.6%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	156	9	5.8%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	155	3	1.9%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	150	2	1.3%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	148	9	6.1%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	140	6	4.3%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	141	2	1.4%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	140	6	4.3%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	138	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	138	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	139	2	1.4%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	142	3	2.1%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	141	3	2.1%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	140	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	140	3	2.1%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	138	4	2.9%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	137	4	2.9%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	134	2	1.5%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	134	3	2.2%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	135	3	2.2%	3.1%

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

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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 68 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 58 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 29 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 8 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 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.

94.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree55%

agree38%

disagree7%

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

strongly agree62%

agree24%

disagree10%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree69%

agree10%

disagree10%

not applicable10%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree79%

agree14%

disagree3%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree52%

agree34%

disagree10%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree66%

agree31%

disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree55%

agree41%

disagree3%

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

strongly agree69%

agree24%

disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree62%

agree24%

disagree14%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree69%

agree21%

disagree10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes93%

no7%

The Ashley School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover