Ormiston Denes Academy
Lowestoft, NR32 4AH · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
37th 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 — 3.3/10 against 188 of them, against 1.6/10 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 | 28.5 · 13 | 46% | 0.59 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.38 · 22 | 38% | 0.85 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.7 · 11 | 15% | 0.17 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ormiston Denes Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 30.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.38 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did 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 (4.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 711 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 school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Ormiston Denes Academy
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending Ormiston Denes Academy and recognise the "substantial improvements" made recently. The school is "highly ambitious" for every pupil, fostering a "safe and friendly" environment where most pupils behave very well and strive to meet high aspirations. Inspectors found that the revised curriculum and consistent staff support have significantly improved the quality of education, attendance, and behaviour.
Strengths
- Teachers use "strong subject knowledge" and skilled questioning to check learning, effectively addressing gaps and misconceptions.
- Staff identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities "very well," adapting tasks so all pupils can access the curriculum successfully.
- The school has made "significant improvements" to attendance and behaviour, with suspensions falling considerably due to consistent policy implementation.
- Pupils are "well-prepared for life in modern Britain," learning about healthy relationships, consent, and how to keep themselves safe.
- Staff are "highly positive" about working here, benefiting from robust support to develop their expertise and leadership skills.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teaching is "not as consistently effective," meaning pupils do not always gain the "breadth and depth of knowledge" they should.
- The school should support staff to deliver high-quality learning experiences across the entire curriculum to ensure pupils achieve highly in all subjects.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.7 |
| 2024/25 | 40.5 |
| 2025/26 | 37.7 |
| 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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