King Edward VI CEVC School, Bury St Edmunds

In its own words: "To be a vibrant learning community nurturing curiosity, courage, care, and creativity in every young person, so that they flourish in the world with hope and self-belief. Developing a passion for learning lies at the heart of everything the school does day-in and day-out."

From the headteacher's welcome: "King Edward VI School has been focused on providing world class education for nearly 500 years and mixes a strong history of academic excellence with a deep commitment to helping every child achieve."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at King Edward VI CEVC School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Suffolk and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Suffolk and 47% in England.

That is down from 45.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.1: pupils made about 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 33.2, against 45.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Social Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 226 families put King Edward VI CEVC School as their first choice and 412 named it as one of their preferences, for 225 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 14 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to King Edward VI CEVC School are Bury St Edmunds County High School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.8); St Benedict's Catholic School (0.5 miles, Attainment 8 51.9); Learning Support, Western Area Education Office (1 mile); and Sybil Andrews Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.6).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than King Edward VI CEVC School.

212 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about King Edward VI CEVC School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 55% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

6.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 96 pupils (8.1%) received SEN support and 83 (7%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

King Edward VI CEVC School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment: 15 places, 13 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 690 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is King Edward VI School (outside), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 162 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, King Edward VI CEVC School issued 421 suspensions, 35.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to King Edward VI CEVC School are St Edmundsbury CofE Primary Academy (0.1 miles), Tollgate Primary School (0.6 miles), Westgate Community Primary School and Nursery (0.8 miles) and Sexton's Manor Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.