Ofsted: Serious Weaknesses trending_up Places Available emoji_events #53 in Suffolk public Top 60% UK

Set Saxmundham School

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

personMr Neil Philpott

corporate_fareSECKFORD EDUCATION TRUST

location_onSaxmundham, IP17 1DZ

language Visit Website phone 1728633910

verified

Ofsted

Serious Weaknesses

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

222

trending_up

Progress 8

-1.18

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#53 in Suffolk

#3,637 of 4,676 nationally

summarize

Set Saxmundham School is a Free schools secondary school in Saxmundham, serving ages 11-16. Pupils make below-average progress (Progress 8: -1.18).

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School Summary

Set Saxmundham School is a free schools in Saxmundham, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SECKFORD EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 222 pupils on roll.

In 2024, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 32, placing the school #53 in Suffolk and #3,637 of 4,676 nationally. Progress 8 was -1.18 — below-average pupil progress.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Serious Weaknesses. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Inadequate, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Inadequate, and leadership and management Inadequate.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 6.5:1. There are 2 teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 100.0%.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 13.9 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)

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc1.60%

EBacc APS2.61

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

30.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS2.69

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.78

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS3.29

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc54%

EBacc APS3.82

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS4.31

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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.

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

31 August 2024

Inspection Report

12 January 2023

Inspection Report

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25 January 2022

Inspection Report

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20 February 2018

Inspection Report

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21 May 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-01-25

S8 No Formal Designation Visit EIF

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Inadequate

Leadership

Inadequate

2018-02-20

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-05-21

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.4% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Summer term 2024

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 8.417% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 90 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.4%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2023/24 (Summer term)	90	0	0.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	109	0	0.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	120	50	41.7%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	224	45	20.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	222	47	21.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	223	19	8.5%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	257	36	14.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	258	12	4.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	278	25	9.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	356	7	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	357	3	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	396	52	13.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	460	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	460	54	11.7%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	463	48	10.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	460	25	5.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	474	34	7.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	491	40	8.1%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	445	38	8.5%	3.4%	4
2017/18 (Spring term)	441	21	4.8%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	438	25	5.7%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	396	1	0.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	384	2	0.5%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	395	0	0.0%	3.1%	0

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

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.

84.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

81.0%Positive

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

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree17%

agree44%

disagree14%

strongly disagree17%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree8%

agree50%

disagree28%

strongly disagree14%

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

strongly agree25%

agree28%

disagree11%

strongly disagree14%

don't know3%

not applicable19%

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

yes36%

no64%

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

strongly agree31%

agree31%

disagree8%

strongly disagree23%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree31%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know19%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree44%

disagree6%

strongly disagree14%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree17%

agree53%

disagree19%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree19%

agree50%

disagree6%

strongly disagree19%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree33%

agree44%

disagree14%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree36%

disagree6%

strongly disagree14%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes72%

no28%

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Debenham High School

Good

location_on Stowmarket, IP14 6BL

emoji_events #1 in LA

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

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

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)

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

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Debenham High School

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy