Ormiston Sudbury Academy, Sudbury

Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades Ormiston Sudbury Academy on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders' meticulous work on attendance has resulted in improvements over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the strengths as well as aspects to refine within the curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school prioritises addressing any barriers that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities may face."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders make appropriate changes with integrity."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal, social, health and economics education curriculum is well considered."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Overall, pupils have not attained outcomes at the end of key stage 4 that match national averages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that they continue to drive school improvement with precision so that pupils achieve well over time and attain more highly in national examinations"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use information about pupils' starting points and needs, including in reading, consistently and to adjust support accordingly so that pupils make the gains in learning that they should".

In its own words: "We are committed to serving our community and recognise the multicultural, multifaith and ever changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand the vital role the Academy plays in ensuring that groups or individuals within the Academy are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are passionate about the education, care and development of young people. First and foremost, we support and challenge our students to find and fulfil their academic potential. We want every student to leave with the best set of qualifications they can attain."

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Friday 21 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Ormiston Sudbury Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in Suffolk and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Suffolk and 47% in England.

That is up from 39.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.3: 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 36.4, against 45.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Food Preparation and Nutrition and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 131 families put Ormiston Sudbury Academy as their first choice and 192 named it as one of their preferences, for 131 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Ormiston Sudbury 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.

61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ormiston Sudbury Academy (as of April 2026): 71% would recommend the school, 61% say their child is happy there and 27% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (27%).

Of the 123 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 62% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

35.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (6%).

The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ormiston Sudbury Academy (outside), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 134 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 Sudbury Academy issued 124 suspensions, 18.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ormiston Sudbury Academy are Tudor Church of England Primary School, Sudbury (0.1 miles); Woodhall Primary School (0.2 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles); and St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.