Debenham High School
Gracechurch Street, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6BLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Debenham High School is a secondary school in Stowmarket for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 1st of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 March 2023, report published 2 May 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 March 2023
Pupils leave Debenham High School having made excellent progress. Leaders have high expectations of pupils' behaviour and academic effort, and pupils rise to meet these. Pupils receive highly focused, good-quality teaching, which enables them to make progress. Pupils praise staff at the school, saying, 'they encourage you to be the best you can be.' The exceptionally wide range of trips and clubs enhances the curriculum and brings learning to life. Pupils take part in language trips and enjoy sharing languages at events such as 'polyglot' club. They have access to many sports clubs. They have excellent relationships with their tutors and appreciate the in-depth personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum they follow. Pupils are highly respectful of each other, and diversity is celebrated. There is very little bullying. Where there is unkind behaviour or language used, pupils are confident that staff will resolve it quickly. Pupils are very happy and safe attending this school. They have many opportunities to develop leadership skills, working as peer mentors and house captains, for example. There is a wide range of support services in place, such as mentors and a school nurse.
What the school should improve
- The support for pupils who join the school with weak reading and mathematics is not as rigorous as it should be. This means that pupils are not catching up as fast as they should. Leaders need to ensure that staff have the guidance and expertise to teach early reading and mathematics effectively. Leaders then need to monitor this provision to ensure programmes are well implemented and help pupils to catch up.
- Pupils in key stage 4 do not read regularly beyond their English lessons. This does not help pupils to read a wide range of texts. Leaders must ensure that teachers across the school develop strategies to encourage older pupils to continue their wider reading, as leaders intend.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
138 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
714 pupils on roll, with places for 625
Schools near Debenham High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stowupland High School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 41.1 |
| Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form | 7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 48.4 |
| Hartismere School | 7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 53.0 |
| Framlingham College | 7 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 43.5 |
| Stradbroke High School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.3 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- HEART OF SUFFOLK EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Martin
- Phone
- 01728860213
- Address
- Gracechurch Street, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6BL
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 136416
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.