Stowmarket High School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding

Onehouse Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1QROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Stowmarket High School is a secondary school in Stowmarket for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 26th of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 10 June 2025, report published 13 July 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 June 2025

Pupils are happy at Stowmarket High School. They are well cared for. Pupils feel confident to talk to staff if they have a worry or concern. Pupils are respectful to each other and to staff. Relationships are strong and pupils understand the importance of being kind and respecting others. Pupils report that they are confident to be themselves. Pupils know what is expected of them and respond well to the school's high expectations of behaviour and academic achievement. Lessons are calm and learning is seldom disrupted. Poor behaviour is not a concern for pupils. They concentrate in lessons and work diligently. Pupils know that their teachers will explain tasks clearly and help them to complete activities. Pupils conduct themselves well around the school site. There are clear routines from the moment pupils arrive at school in the morning and throughout the day. Pupils are courteous to visitors and staff. Their behaviour ensures that there is a pleasant atmosphere around the school. Pupils have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of clubs, take part in school performances and go on a range of local, national and international trips and visits. Pupils are given information about further education, apprenticeships and careers. This prepares them well for their next steps in the wider world.

What the school should improve

  • On occasion, key knowledge is not taught precisely enough. As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that teaching supports all pupils to learn key subject knowledge securely.
  • Some pupils do not access the wide range of clubs, trips and visits provided by the school. This means that some pupils are not getting the broad and rich experience that the school would like them to have. The school should remove barriers to participation so that more pupils benefit from this offer.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

178 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score40.5

40.5, 5.6 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths35.4%

35.4%, 10 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58.4%

58.4%, 6.4 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc34.8%

34.8%, 5.7 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.52

3.52, 0.57 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

901 pupils on roll, with places for 1,200

Eligible for free school meals20.5%

20.5%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language4.7%

4.7%, 16.9 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support14.3%

14.3%, 0.5 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5.8%

5.8%, 0.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Stowmarket High School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Finborough School2 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 37.5
Stowupland High School2 milesOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 41.1
Claydon High School8 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 45.0
Debenham High School8 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 55.7
Thurston Community College8 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 46.9

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
KINGFISHER SCHOOLS TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Ms Lucie Hernandez
Address
Onehouse Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1QR
Local authority
Suffolk
URN
145055

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.