Best Secondary Schools in Suffolk 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 42 schools across Suffolk. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Suffolk has 42 open secondary schools. Of the 42 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (2%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 83% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Debenham High School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Suffolk follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

42
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
2%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
59.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.8
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Debenham High School
Secondary
 Good 72 View school
🥈 St Benedict's Catholic School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
🥉 Kesgrave High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
4. Bury St Edmunds County High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
5. Sybil Andrews Academy
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
6. Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
7. East Bergholt High School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
8. Thurston Community College
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
9. St Alban's Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
10. Copleston High School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
11. Newmarket Academy
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
12. King Edward VI CEVC School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
13. Claydon High School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
14. Sir John Leman High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
15. Stour Valley Community School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
16. Stradbroke High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
17. Samuel Ward Academy
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
18. Farlingaye High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
19. Hadleigh High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
20. Ormiston Endeavour Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Suffolk

Best primary schools in SuffolkTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in SuffolkTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in SuffolkPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in SuffolkReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in NorfolkCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in EssexCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in CambridgeshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Southend-on-SeaCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Suffolk

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in Suffolk

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Suffolk?
There are 42 open secondary schools in Suffolk (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 42 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Suffolk?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Suffolk is Debenham High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Suffolk?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Suffolk?
Primary and secondary applications in Suffolk are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Suffolk council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.