Holbrook Academy
Ipswich, IP9 2QX · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
36th 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 the 912 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0/10 among them, against 2.2/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.34 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.9 · 32 | 30% | 0.97 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.61 · 11 | 25% | 0.28 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.1 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holbrook Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 34.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.61 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6 out of 10 among them, against 2.0 out of 10 nationally. The school was inspected in June 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Dungeons and Dragons and Mahjong clubs, or participate in cross country, football, badminton, rugby, netball, swimming, trampolining, and indoor cricket. An after-school club is also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 584 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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 specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Holbrook Academy
Overview
Holbrook Academy is a small, friendly school where pupils feel safe and valued, with strong pastoral care and good attendance. However, the quality of teaching and curriculum delivery is inconsistent, leading to too many pupils underachieving in national examinations. Leaders are working to improve outcomes but have not yet acted with sufficient urgency or precision to raise standards across all subjects.
Strengths
- Leaders have created a "warm and welcoming school" where pupils develop a "secure sense of belonging" and bullying is rare.
- Attendance is monitored closely, with effective support helping pupils attend more regularly and reducing suspensions considerably.
- The school provides strong inclusion and pastoral support, including targeted help for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils.
- Pupils benefit from a broad personal development programme, including clubs, community action, and impartial careers guidance.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must improve the precision of identifying causes of underachievement to ensure pupils make consistently secure progress through the curriculum.
- Professional development needs to be sharply aligned to improving teaching, with rigorous evaluation of its impact on pupil achievement.
- A coherent approach to assessment must be established so that information is used effectively to address misconceptions and improve academic outcomes.
- Leaders should strengthen pupils' understanding of protected characteristics to challenge inappropriate comments relating to race, gender, and appearance.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed, ensuring pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.4 |
| 2024/25 | 41.2 |
| 2025/26 | 40.1 |
| 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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