Ipswich Academy, Ipswich

In its own words: "Find out more about Ipswich Academy, the way we are run and what we do as a school. Our students have an excellent work ethic, a real interest in their studies and ambitious aspirations for the future. Our high standards give our students every opportunity to be successful."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, dance, STEM, gardening, art and debating.

On phones, the school says: "School rules: We treat others with respect and dignity; We are punctual for school and lessons; We respect school and public property; We secure mobile phones in our phone pouches whilst in school."

In 2026, pupils at Ipswich Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Suffolk and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Suffolk and 47% in England.

That is up from 37.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.54: pupils made well 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 31.5, against 46.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 137 families put Ipswich Academy as their first choice and 182 named it as one of their preferences, for 200 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ipswich Academy are Copleston High School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.3); Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36); Learning Support, Southern Area Education Office (2.1 miles); and St Alban's Catholic High School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.3).

Ipswich Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Ipswich Academy is one of 7 schools run by Paradigm Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 237 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

41.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

Ipswich Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities: 24 places, 9 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Entrance3, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Windermere Close (adjacent), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 145 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ipswich Academy issued 1724 suspensions, 171.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ipswich Academy are Morland Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles), Ravenswood Community Primary School (0.4 miles), Piper's Vale Primary - A Paradigm Academy (0.6 miles) and Murrayfield Primary - A Paradigm Academy (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.