Copleston High School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted: Good

Copleston Road, Ipswich, IP4 5HDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Copleston High School is a secondary school in Ipswich for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 3rd of 12 secondary schools in Ipswich. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2013.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 24 April 2013, report published 10 May 2013

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2023

Pupils reflect the inclusive ethos of the school in 'achieving success together'. They work well collaboratively, listening and learning from one another. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary in and out of lessons, with pupils showing mutual respect to their peers and adults alike. As a result of the calm culture created by leaders, pupils feel safe in school. Pupils respond well to the high expectations the school has of them. Many pupils are aspirational for their future lives and achieve highly. However, a few pupils do not attend school regularly and therefore do not always achieve as well as they should. A wide range of visits and experiences enhance pupils' learning outside of the classroom. These are available to all pupils, including practising Spanish skills in Spain, exploring battlefields of the First World War, and a cultural trip to New York for sixth form students. There is an equally varied range of clubs for pupils to enjoy, including sports, jazz and steel bands, science and investors clubs. Many opportunities exist for pupils to make important contributions to school life. These opportunities include being pupil leaders, sports leaders and members of the basketball academy.

What the school should improve

  • Some pupils do not attend school regularly. This means that they have gaps in their knowledge and do not achieve as highly as they should. The school must work closely with parents and external agencies to secure the high attendance of all groups of pupils and reduce persistent absence, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
  • Parents' and carers' perceptions of the school, particularly regarding the provision for pupils with SEND, do not always accurately reflect the quality of provision that the school provides. The school should ensure that it engages effectively with parents and carers to build positive relationships and ensure that they understand and are supportive of the work of the school.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

320 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score46.9

46.9, 0.8 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths48.1%

48.1%, 2.7 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths70%

70%, 5.2 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc30.9%

30.9%, 9.6 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.15

4.15, 0.06 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

149 students

Average point score per A level entry31.87

31.87, 3.13 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C+, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,930 pupils on roll, with places for 1,780

Eligible for free school meals17.8%

17.8%, 8.7 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language15.6%

15.6%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support7.6%

7.6%, 7.2 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.6%

4.6%, 1.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Copleston High School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St Alban's Catholic High School0.6 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 46.9
Northgate High School1 mileOfsted judgements: Good to outstandingAttainment 8: 50.6
Ipswich Academy2 milesOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 37.6
Ipswich School2 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 68.1
Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy2 milesReport card: Needs attention to expected standardAttainment 8: 34.3

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
OXLIP LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Andrew Green
Address
Copleston Road, Ipswich, IP4 5HD
Local authority
Suffolk
URN
136827

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.