Ixworth High School

Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of SAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST

Walsham Road, Ixworth, IP31 2HS

01359 234050 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 23 April 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%England 45% · 2024/25
27th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 32% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils512Room for 600 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 266 in 2019, 386 in 2021, 436 in 2022, 482 in 2023, 528 in 2024, 547 in 2025, 512 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.980 for 88 places, September 2026
34th highest of 43 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 40% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 23 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

169 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Suffolk comparisons use the 24 of its 45 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 21 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolSuffolkEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 20th highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 15% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
66% 78% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
19th highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 21% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 81% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
21st highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 10% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
49% 68% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 92 parents whose child had been bullied
19th highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 15% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
35% 46% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 149 parents who had raised a concern
23rd highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 7% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
40% 64% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 61 parents of children with SEND
11th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 12% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
38% 67% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
22nd highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk.
Higher than 11% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
51%said yes 73% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 31%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Suffolk figures pool parents at the Suffolk schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

100 pupils in this year group.

37% — 3 points below the Suffolk average, and 8 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 37% 40% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 44 42.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4 3.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 28%This school 2024/25: 37% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 28% 2024/25 37%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

72 pupils in this year group.

88% — 5 points below the Suffolk average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 93% 92%
School sixth form 22% 39% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 5% 13%
Further education college 47% 42% 37%
Apprenticeship 7% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%88%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Suffolk. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered88
Families who put it first80
Of those, offered a place80 (100%)
Families who listed it at all175

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Suffolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 20 places for hearing impairment; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
22nd highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.9% 22.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.1% 13.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 34th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.5% 9.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 22nd lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.3% 9.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
36th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Lower than 27% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
28.2% 24.3%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
38th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
44.4 31.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
40th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Lower than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.8% 7.7% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.34% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
44th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 8% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.1 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 40th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.2 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Suffolk.
Higher than 84% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
21.4% 12.5%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Questions parents ask

What is Ixworth High School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 23 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Ixworth High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 8 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Ixworth High School?

51% of the 169 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Ixworth High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Ixworth High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 80 families put Ixworth High School as their first choice for 88 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 80 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.