Academy converter · Suffolk

Samuel Ward Academy

11–18Ages
1,076Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136322URN

Chalkstone Way, Haverhill, CB9 0LD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.3 below Suffolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Suffolk

242 applications for 186 places · 35th of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.2of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

37th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 1 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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

1.3applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Suffolk median (1.6) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

242 applications · 186 places offered · 148 named it first

2026 1.3; Suffolk median median 1.6
2025 1.7; Suffolk median median 1.6
2024 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.6
2023 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.5
2018 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.5
2017 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.5
2016 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.5
2015 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.5

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	186	242	1.3	148	0.80
Sep 2025	159	263	1.7	146	0.92
Sep 2024	192	269	1.4	179	0.93
Sep 2023	198	271	1.4	171	0.86
Sep 2022	209	323	1.6	200	0.96
Sep 2021	186	274	1.5	166	0.89
Sep 2020	199	295	1.5	180	0.90
Sep 2019	230	349	1.5	232	1.01
Sep 2018	240	379	1.6	251	1.05
Sep 2017	228	361	1.6	267	1.17
Sep 2016	246	394	1.6	290	1.18
Sep 2015	251	389	1.6	291	1.16
Sep 2014	220	321	1.5	213	0.97

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

194 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.237th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%33rd of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths54%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.23

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	194	38.2	32%	54%	–
2024/25	195	43.8	42%	61%	–
2023/24	228	43.2	36%	65%	−0.23
2022/23	227	44.6	40%	64%	−0.23

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

Samuel Ward AcademyThis school
This school

Good2022

1.3applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
Castle Manor Academy
1.4 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2024

1.8applications per place 39.5Attainment 8
Stour Valley Community School
9.8 km · Suffolk

Good2023

1.6applications per place 44.5Attainment 8
Linton Village College
12.1 km · Cambridgeshire

Good2024

2.0applications per place 48.8Attainment 8
Hedingham School and Sixth Form
15.1 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
Saffron Walden County High School
16.9 km · Essex

Outstanding2024

1.9applications per place 55.8Attainment 8
Newmarket Academy
18.2 km · Suffolk

Good2023

1.4applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport
19.7 km · Essex

Good2023

2.7applications per place 50.7Attainment 8
Sawston Village College
19.9 km · Cambridgeshire

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 54.2Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136322 · 935/4102
Trust: Unity Schools Partnership
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,250 pupils · 1,076 on roll
Free school meals: 17.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 November 2010
Replaced: Samuel Ward Arts and Technology College (URN 124852)
Address: Chalkstone Way, Haverhill, CB9 0LD
Local authority: Suffolk · West Suffolk

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