University of Suffolk, Ipswich
University of Suffolk is a school for pupils in Ipswich. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 1 strong standard and 4 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 1 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
University of Suffolk in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 5 May 2026 inspection grades University of Suffolk on 5 areas: 1 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise inclusive approaches across the organisation."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Stakeholders value highly their mutually beneficial relationship with the university."
Achievement - Strong standard. "Most apprentices achieve their apprenticeship."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The quality of teaching and training is mostly of a high standard."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Lecturers embed fundamental British values into their teaching sessions."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should maintain their quality improvements so that the quality of teaching and training is of a consistently high quality"; "Leaders should improve the quality of feedback that staff provide to apprentices so that it is of a consistently high standard and apprentices know what they need to do to improve their work"; "Leaders should ensure that apprentices have the opportunity to access a broad and tailored programme of wider opportunities to further enhance their experiences on their apprenticeship"; "Leaders should thoroughly review the impact of the support that staff provide to apprentices with barriers to learning so that leaders can assure themselves that the support is highly effective".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
University of Suffolk in its own words
In its own words: "Our Strategic Plan focuses on four priority themes: Education and Student Experience; Research and Knowledge Exchange; Engagement with partners to strengthen our civic university role and Institutional Transformation for resilience and sustainability. Students are at the centre of our mission and ethos. We are proud of our tradition of attracting a diverse student body and producing high-quality graduates."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Entrance3, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coprolite Street (adjacent), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 475 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Participation and developmentExpected standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should maintain their quality improvements so that the quality of teaching and training is of a consistently high quality.
- Leaders should improve the quality of feedback that staff provide to apprentices so that it is of a consistently high standard and apprentices know what they need to do to improve their work.
- Leaders should ensure that apprentices have the opportunity to access a broad and tailored programme of wider opportunities to further enhance their experiences on their apprenticeship.
- Leaders should thoroughly review the impact of the support that staff provide to apprentices with barriers to learning so that leaders can assure themselves that the support is highly effective.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 5 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Suffolk achieves excellent outcomes for apprentices, with high completion rates and strong progression into employment with enhanced responsibilities. The provider creates an inclusive environment where apprentices with additional needs achieve alongside their peers, receiving personalised support from a dedicated student support team. Lecturers are skilled at connecting classroom learning to real workplace practice, helping apprentices develop confidence and capability in their chosen fields.
Key Strengths
- Most apprentices achieve their apprenticeship with high rates across all standards, including those with barriers to learning
- Apprentices develop substantial practical skills and progress confidently, with almost all remaining in employment after completion
- Leaders prioritise inclusive approaches with extensive staff training and specialist support for apprentices with additional needs
- High-quality teaching that links theory to practice, with lecturers using their professional expertise effectively
- Apprentices receive strong careers advice and guidance to support their progression
Areas for Improvement
- Leaders do not yet systematically review the overall effectiveness and impact of support provided to apprentices with barriers to learning
- Feedback on written work is occasionally too general and does not consistently identify how apprentices can improve
- Quality of teaching and training in digital technology solutions apprenticeship needs to be sustained at consistently high levels
- Involvement of apprentices in wider development activities is variable across different curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Innovation showcase events, mock interviews, curriculum vitae workshops, employability sessions, career talks, projects with local libraries
University of Suffolk provides apprenticeships at levels 4 to 6 with high achievement rates and strong support for apprentices. The provider has established itself as a collaborative partner with local employers and maintains an inclusive learning environment.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
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From University of Suffolk's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with University of Suffolk
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 62
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 62 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 52 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
18 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,475
Applications
7,204
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Questions parents ask about University of Suffolk
What is the catchment area for University of Suffolk?
No fixed boundary. When University of Suffolk is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Suffolk?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Suffolk on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near University of Suffolk?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 62 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 52 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 18 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Suffolk?
University of Suffolk is at Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)