Sir John Leman High School
Beccles, NR34 9PG · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th 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 — 4.8/10 against 912 of them, against 5.0/10 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 | 16 | 35% | 0.55 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 49.8 · 62 | 30% | 1.86 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 25% | 0.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.7 · 54 | 10% | 0.54 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir John Leman High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 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 3.1 out of 10 among them, against 4.0 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in April 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Writers' Workshop, participate in Recreational PE, and engage in RAG Week, charity events, and Sixth Form events.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,404 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,476. 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 who need extra help in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Sir John Leman High School
Overview
The inspection found that Sir John Leman High School meets the "expected standard" across all key areas, including achievement, attendance, behaviour, curriculum, and leadership. The report highlights a "welcoming and inclusive" environment where pupils feel safe, valued, and well-supported by staff. Leaders have established a "strong culture" focused on pupil success, with particular praise for the school’s approach to personal development and careers education.
Strengths
- Pupils are "well prepared for the next stage of education, training or employment," with strong outcomes in English and effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
- Leaders have "embedded a positive culture of behaviour," resulting in rare instances of poor behaviour and a "calm and purposeful atmosphere" where learning is rarely disrupted.
- The curriculum is described as "well designed and ambitious," with a "thoughtful, well-ordered programme of personal development" that helps pupils grow into "confident and respectful young people."
- Staff build "trusting relationships" with pupils, who consistently report feeling "known, cared for and safe," with bullying being rare.
- The post-16 provision offers "individualised pathways" and an effective careers programme, with many pupils progressing to "high-performing universities."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure teachers have the expertise to implement a "whole-school approach to writing and spelling" embedded across all key stages, as support for writing is not yet fully developed in some subjects.
- Leaders should continue to use analysis of post-16 students’ learning to inform adaptations to teaching and the curriculum to further improve outcomes, which have historically been below national averages.
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 | 46.1 |
| 2024/25 | 44.8 |
| 2025/26 | 46.7 |
| 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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