Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics
Lowestoft, NR32 4PZ · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.4/10 against 815 of them, against 5.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 49.2 · 60 | 46% | 2.79 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.12 · 41 | 38% | 1.58 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.6 · 53 | 15% | 0.82 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.9, slightly above the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.12, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,263 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the curriculum balance the specific focus on music and mathematics with other core subjects? What support is available for pupils who need to close the gap indicated by the negative Progress 8 score?
What Ofsted said about Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are encouraged to "make a difference to their own lives and the lives of others." Leaders have established an "ambitious curriculum" that caters well to pupils’ interests, resulting in a "calm learning environment" and high-quality teaching. The provision for personal development is deemed "exemplary," with music and the performing arts at the heart of an "exceptional programme of enrichment activities."
Strengths
- Teachers receive "extensive, well-planned training" and "systematically check learning" to address misunderstandings, ensuring pupils learn well across the curriculum.
- The school offers an "impressive range of extra-curricular activities," with nearly all pupils participating in clubs such as cryptography and British Sign Language.
- Pastoral care is planned well, creating a supportive culture where pupils "behave well" and bullying is dealt with "promptly and effectively."
- Leaders have established "rigorous systems" to check education quality, and staff feel their workload and well-being are considered.
- The school provides "well-targeted, effective help" for pupils needing support with reading and those with special educational needs.
Areas to improve
- Some pupils do not attend school regularly enough, missing out on key learning and personal development; the school must prioritise actions to improve attendance for these pupils.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.4 |
| 2024/25 | 44.9 |
| 2025/26 | 46.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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