Stowupland High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of OXLIP LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket, IP14 4BQ

01449 674827 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 10 January 2023, before conversion
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 40% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils846Room for 1,085 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 994 in 2019, 997 in 2021, 1,013 in 2022, 1,003 in 2023, 1,008 in 2024, 897 in 2025, 846 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0120 for 126 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 50% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 10 January 2023. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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 educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

173 pupils in this year group.

40% — about the same as the Suffolk average, and 6 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 40% 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. 41.1 42.8 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.5 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 2024/25: 40% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 – 2024/25 40%

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.

202 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 143362), before it changed to its current form.

94% — about the same as the Suffolk average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 50%35%
England 36%13%35%
MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 94% 94% 93%
School sixth form 50% 42% 36%
Sixth form college 0% 5% 13%
Further education college 35% 38% 35%
Apprenticeship 4% 4% 3%
Work 4% 4% 4%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2023/24 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

28 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Average A level grade D C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 10% 19% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 21% 45% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 21.1 31.9 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
15 20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 25.1This school 2023/24: 18.6This school 2024/25: 21.1 This school England 35 2022/23 25.1 2023/24 18.6 2024/25 21.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 61 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 12 8% 17% 40%
History 8 0% 0% 23%
Geography 6 0% 0% 23%
Physics 6 17% 17% 31%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Design and Technology (Product Design), Government and Politics, Mathematics (Further), Sociology, English Literature, Biology, Computer Studies / Computing, Mathematics (Statistics), Religious Studies, Chemistry, English Language.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

57 students in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 143362), before it changed to its current form.

86% — 6 points above the Suffolk average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 86% 80% 80%
Apprenticeship 2% 9% 7%
Work 26% 37% 28%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2023/24 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

22 students in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 143362), before it changed to its current form.

41% — 14 points below the Suffolk average, and 25 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 41% 55% 66%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 5% 15% 24%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2023/24 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 offered126
Families who put it first120
Of those, offered a place120 (100%)
Families who listed it at all244

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Suffolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 24 places for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 51% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
27.4% 22.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.7% 3.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 13.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.0% 9.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 21% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.3% 9.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 31% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
27.1% 24.3%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 10% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
52.2 31.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
17.1% 7.7% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils 0.78% 0.34% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.2 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.8 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 40% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.7% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Stowupland High School's Ofsted rating?

Stowupland High School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 January 2023.

How did Stowupland High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Stowupland High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 120 families put Stowupland High School as their first choice for 126 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 120 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.