Ormiston Denes Academy, Lowestoft

In its own words: "Ormiston Denes Academy is a member of Ormiston Academies Trust and as such believes: We strive for excellence in everything that we do. We provide a warm, welcoming, orderly and inclusive school environment, where ‘The Denes Way’ is an expectation. We believe in doing the everyday things well, Aspiration, Integrity, Respect and Kindness."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Ormiston Denes is not just a building filled with teachers and children with lessons taking place. It is a very special community committed to ensuring that every day is better than the one that went before it, and that every individual becomes the best version of themselves."

In 2026, pupils at Ormiston Denes Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, 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 down from 40.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.38: 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 34, against 41.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 87 families put Ormiston Denes Academy as their first choice and 163 named it as one of their preferences, for 96 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 Ormiston Denes Academy are Learning Support, Northern Area Education Office (0.6 miles); Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.6); East Point Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.2); and Pakefield High School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Ormiston Denes Academy.

Ormiston Denes Academy is one of 44 schools run by Ormiston Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41 in 2024/25.

47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ormiston Denes Academy (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

Of the 143 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

58.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 205 pupils (28.8%) received SEN support and 58 (8.2%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Lowestoft Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Denes High School (outside), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 272 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, Ormiston Denes Academy issued 396 suspensions, 54.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 8 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ormiston Denes Academy are Poplars Community Primary School (0.2 miles), Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy (0.3 miles), St Margaret's Primary Academy (0.3 miles) and Gunton Primary Academy (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.