Ormiston Sudbury Academy
Sudbury, CO10 1NW · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
34th 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 — 3.5/10 against 640 of them, against 2.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 13 | 35% | 0.44 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.0 · 22 | 30% | 0.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.3 · 27 | 25% | 0.68 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.2 · 35 | 10% | 0.35 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ormiston Sudbury Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.3 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 (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 710 pupils against a stated capacity of 800. 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 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework influence current teaching priorities in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Ormiston Sudbury Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders are driving improvement with integrity, resulting in a "calm and purposeful" atmosphere. While attendance and behaviour meet the expected standard, overall pupil achievement at key stage 4 currently falls below national averages, though outcomes are improving.
Strengths
- Attendance has improved significantly, with pupils now attending "more regularly than their peers nationally," including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
- Pupils behave well, showing "courtesy and respect" for one another, and bullying is dealt with effectively.
- Staff are "secure in their subject knowledge" and use strategies to help pupils "think deeply" and build vocabulary.
- The personal development curriculum is "well considered," teaching age-appropriate content on relationships, mental health, and online safety.
- Leaders use pupil premium funding effectively to support attendance and reduce behaviour incidents.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure staff use information about pupils' starting points and needs "consistently" to adjust support, particularly in reading, so pupils make expected gains.
- Leaders should continue to drive improvement with precision so that pupils "attain more highly in national examinations" and achieve well over time.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.3 |
| 2024/25 | 39.6 |
| 2025/26 | 43.2 |
| 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 CO10 1NW, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT