Bury St Edmunds County High School
Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RF · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
22nd of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 4.9/10 against 877 of them, against 4.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 19 | 35% | 0.66 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 44.3 · 48 | 30% | 1.44 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.09 · 43 | 25% | 1.08 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.8 · 43 | 10% | 0.43 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bury St Edmunds County High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than peers nationally starting from the same point. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh, Engineering Education Scheme, Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Band. Activities include voice lessons, a ski trip, and language exchanges to France, Germany, Japan, and Spain. Other trips include sports tours to Barcelona and South Africa, a physics trip to CERN, history visits to battlefields, Munich, Berlin, and Washington, a classics trip to Pompeii, and art tours to Paris.
Getting in
The published school roll is 657 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,020. 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 school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Bury St Edmunds County High School
Overview
Bury St Edmunds County High School is described as a "friendly and inclusive" institution where pupils feel "happy and safe" and their voices are valued. The report highlights a "positive culture" maintained by leaders who place pupils' best interests at the heart of decision-making, resulting in steady improvements in standards and a strong sense of community.
Strengths
- The personal development and wellbeing offer is rated at a "Strong standard," featuring a "highly effective" PSHE programme that helps pupils build a "secure understanding" of key topics like mental health and relationships.
- Pupils achieve well, with particular strength in English and mathematics; disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs are supported effectively, with the attainment gap "starting to close."
- Behaviour is excellent, with a "calm and orderly" site where bullying is not tolerated and staff respond swiftly to concerns, fostering an environment where pupils "get on well with each other."
- Leaders have established a "high-quality professional learning programme" and prioritise staff wellbeing, ensuring teachers feel valued and supported in their roles.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should continue supporting regular attendance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, whose attendance remains below national averages.
- Leaders should embed the consistency of adaptive teaching to further raise the achievement of disadvantaged pupils, addressing instances where misconceptions are not identified quickly enough.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture" where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed to ensure pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.2 |
| 2024/25 | 49.8 |
| 2025/26 | 44.8 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of IP32 6RF, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT