Community school · Suffolk

Northgate High School

11–18Ages
1,750Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
124840URN

Sidegate Lane West, Ipswich, IP4 3DL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.2per place

1.5 above Suffolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Suffolk

741 applications for 235 places · 1st of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

49.5of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

6th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 December 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Inspection history

3 December 2024
Graded inspection, no overall grade
14 November 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.2applications per place, Year 7

1.5 above Suffolk median (1.6) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

741 applications · 235 places offered · 316 named it first

2026 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.6
2025 2.9; Suffolk median median 1.6
2024 2.9; Suffolk median median 1.6
2023 2.7; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 2.9; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 3.3; Suffolk median median 1.5
2018 3.5; Suffolk median median 1.5
2017 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.5
2016 4.0; Suffolk median median 1.5
2015 3.8; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 3.8; Suffolk median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Suffolk median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Suffolk median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	235	741	3.2	316	1.34
Sep 2025	240	705	2.9	333	1.39
Sep 2024	242	697	2.9	303	1.25
Sep 2023	248	673	2.7	288	1.16
Sep 2022	242	704	2.9	340	1.40
Sep 2021	250	792	3.2	317	1.27
Sep 2020	238	754	3.2	348	1.46
Sep 2019	246	821	3.3	320	1.30
Sep 2018	243	851	3.5	353	1.45
Sep 2017	272	881	3.2	325	1.19
Sep 2016	248	988	4.0	348	1.40
Sep 2015	240	902	3.8	302	1.26
Sep 2014	218	824	3.8	280	1.28

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

252 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.56th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%7th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths71%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.35

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	252	49.5	51%	71%	–
2024/25	250	50.6	55%	75%	–
2023/24	254	51.2	56%	76%	+0.35
2022/23	250	49.6	54%	75%	+0.08

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Northgate High SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.2applications per place 49.5Attainment 8
St Alban's Catholic High School
1.6 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2025

2.4applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
Copleston High School
2.1 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2023

2.2applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
Ormiston Endeavour Academy
3.3 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2022

1.3applications per place 40.4Attainment 8
Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy
3.9 km · Suffolk

2026

1.2applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
Westbourne Academy
4.1 km · Suffolk

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2025

1.1applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Kesgrave High School
4.4 km · Suffolk

Good2022

2.0applications per place 47.0Attainment 8
Chantry Academy
4.6 km · Suffolk

Good2024

1.6applications per place 36.7Attainment 8
Ipswich Academy
4.7 km · Suffolk

Requires improvement2024

0.9applications per place 40.3Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 124840 · 935/4090
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,777 pupils · 1,750 on roll
Free school meals: 19.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Sidegate Lane West, Ipswich, IP4 3DL
Local authority: Suffolk · Ipswich

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources