Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #30 in Suffolk public Top 35% UK

Stowmarket High School

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

personMs Lucie Hernandez

corporate_fareKINGFISHER SCHOOLS TRUST LTD

location_onStowmarket, IP14 1QR

language Visit Website phone 1449613541

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

872

trending_up

Attainment 8

40.5

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#30 in Suffolk

#2,472 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Stowmarket High School is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Stowmarket, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

Stowmarket High School is an academy sponsor led in Stowmarket, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of KINGFISHER SCHOOLS TRUST LTD. The school has approximately 896 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40.5, placing the school #30 in Suffolk and #2,472 of 3,216 nationally. 35.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Outstanding.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.3 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

40.5

Grade 5+ E&M

35.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.6%

Entering EBacc34.80%

EBacc APS3.52

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.03

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18.90%

EBacc APS3.93

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.10

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.64

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS3.74

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS3.3

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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

92%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

workspace_premium

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2022

Students

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 June 2025

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

27 March 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 January 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Outstanding

2023-01-19

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-07-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-09-23

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

10.5%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.9%(44 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 896 pupils. During this period, there were 94 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 10.5%, which is above 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)	896	94	10.5%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	906	109	12.0%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	887	101	11.4%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	901	96	10.7%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	905	88	9.7%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	868	196	22.6%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	872	135	15.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	874	75	8.6%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	819	46	5.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	823	50	6.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	827	37	4.5%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	833	17	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	829	8	1.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	832	21	2.5%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	846	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	846	9	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	836	12	1.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	831	16	1.9%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	840	11	1.3%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	841	6	0.7%	3.8%	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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 37 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 32 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 31 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 14 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Physical 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.

89.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

88.0%Positive

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

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree55%

disagree12%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree20%

agree46%

disagree20%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree42%

agree25%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

not applicable18%

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

yes28%

no72%

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

strongly agree39%

agree39%

disagree7%

strongly disagree14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree38%

agree49%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree45%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree55%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree37%

agree55%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree45%

agree51%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree47%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

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)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

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)

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.

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

Debenham High School

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy