Castle Manor Academy, Haverhill

In its own words: "We expect everyone to display behaviour that buys into our vision and we consistently develop these values in our students through lessons, tutor times and conversations across the school site. Our PROUD values mean that we are: professional ; resilient ; optimistic ; understanding and driven in all that we do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to be Headteacher of Castle Manor Academy, a post I have held for the last ten years. Our students are at the centre of everything we do. An excellent academic education and broader personal development is what we aim to achieve for all our learners."

In 2026, pupils at Castle Manor Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Suffolk and 47 across England.

29% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Suffolk and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 40.3.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.13: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.5, against 42.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 161 families put Castle Manor Academy as their first choice and 265 named it as one of their preferences, for 146 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 25 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Castle Manor Academy is one of 40 schools run by Unity Schools Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.3 in 2024/25.

68 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Castle Manor Academy (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).

Of the 147 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

In 2026, 118 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 59 (7.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Castle Manor Academy has a SEN unit for moderate learning difficulties: 22 places, 24 pupils on roll.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Castle Manor Academy.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Broadcroft Crescent (opposite), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 127 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Castle Manor Academy issued 77 suspensions, 10.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Castle Manor Academy are Place Farm Primary Academy (0.2 miles); St Felix Roman Catholic Primary School, Haverhill (0.3 miles); Burton End Primary Academy (0.3 miles); and New Cangle Community Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.