SchoolScoresKing Edward VI CEVC School
Voluntary controlled school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Church of England
Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3BH
01284 761393 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
212 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bury St Edmunds comparisons use the 4 of its 6 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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.
| Statement | This school | Bury St Edmunds | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 78% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 40% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 82% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 34% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 68% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 104 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 56% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 46% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 173 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 63% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 67 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk. Higher than 92% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82%said yes | 74% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Bury St Edmunds figures pool parents at the Bury St Edmunds 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
229 pupils in this year group.
38% — 2 points below the Suffolk average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 38% | 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. | 45.4 | 42.8 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.9 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
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.
239 pupils in this year group.
95% — 2 points above the Suffolk average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 95% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 42% | 39% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 48% | 42% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 97% | 95% |
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 offered | 225 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 226 |
| Of those, offered a place | 212 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 412 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 15 places for hearing impairment. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.0% | 22.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8% | 13.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.5% | 9.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9% | 9.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.2% | 24.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 35.1 | 31.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.1% | 7.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.33% | 0.34% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 73% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.9 | 17.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.6 | 12.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 35% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 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).
Nearby secondary schools
- Abbeygate Sixth Form College 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- Bury St Edmunds County High School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Benedict's Catholic School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- South Lee School 1.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Sybil Andrews Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is King Edward VI CEVC School's Ofsted rating?
King Edward VI CEVC School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did King Edward VI CEVC School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 38% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend King Edward VI CEVC School?
82% of the 212 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend King Edward VI CEVC School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is King Edward VI CEVC School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 226 families put King Edward VI CEVC School as their first choice for 225 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 212 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 124856.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.