St Benedict's Catholic School, Bury St Edmunds
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Benedict's creates a supportive community where pupils feel valued, secure and happy. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and structure learning carefully so pupils build understanding step-by-step. The school actively identifies pupils who need extra help with reading and provides specialist support to help them progress quickly.
Key Strengths
- Bold and ambitious curriculum with deep subject expertise from teachers
- Strong identification and support for pupils struggling with reading and writing
- Effective tailored support for pupils with SEND through specialist staff and close teacher collaboration
- High standards for behaviour and attendance with bespoke support when needed
- Sixth form students receive personalised guidance and support from teachers and alumni mentors
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always use assessment checks consistently to gauge pupil understanding and identify when they are ready to move on
- Misconceptions sometimes go unnoticed and unaddressed due to inconsistent use of assessment data
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
St Benedict awards, golden tickets, charity fundraising events and initiatives
St Benedict's Catholic School has maintained good standards following its previous inspection. Pupils are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves within a supportive, nurturing environment that embodies the school's values of wisdom, compassion and resilience.
At a Glance
11.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
253 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
21.0
Avg class size
46
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
114%
Over capacity
968 pupils
852 capacity
116 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Bury St Edmunds
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bury St Edmunds
Admissions Demand - Suffolk
Places available
8,496
Applications
7,401
Got 1st preference
92.0%
Got preferred school
97.4%
Secondary admissions across Suffolk (2025/26)
Inspection History
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.23321%
Overall absence
17.11924%
Persistent absence
847
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Benedict's Catholic School
Nearby Schools
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