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Academy converter · Suffolk

Debenham High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 714Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 136416URN

Gracechurch Street, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6BL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.6per place
close to Suffolk median (1.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Suffolk

231 applications for 141 places · 18th of 41 in Suffolk
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
51.5of 90
4th of 43 in Suffolk
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood

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
1.6applications per place, Year 7
close to Suffolk median (1.6) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

231 applications · 141 places offered · 146 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
  2. 2025 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.6
  3. 2024 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
  4. 2023 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
  5. 2022 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.6
  6. 2021 1.7; Suffolk median median 1.6
  7. 2020 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.4
  8. 2019 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.5
  9. 2018 1.7; Suffolk median median 1.5
  10. 2017 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.5
  11. 2016 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.5
  12. 2015 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.5
  13. 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261412311.61461.04
Sep 20251352511.91551.15
Sep 20241332061.61310.98
Sep 20231352091.61280.95
Sep 20221352361.81340.99
Sep 20211352341.71340.99
Sep 20201252251.81401.12
Sep 20191402511.81751.25
Sep 20181352281.71511.12
Sep 20171352001.51320.98
Sep 20161252191.81331.06
Sep 20151252201.81401.12
Sep 20141251841.51291.03

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

136 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)51.54th of 43 in Suffolk
Grade 5 or above in English and maths55%3rd of 43 in Suffolk
Grade 4 or above in English and maths77%
  • This school
  • Suffolk median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.76
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)13651.555%77%–
2024/2513855.768%85%–
2023/2414055.459%84%+0.76
2022/2313555.662%84%+0.71

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

  • 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
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136416 · 935/4504
Trust
Heart of Suffolk Education Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
625 pupils · 714 on roll
Free school meals
14.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 January 2011
Replaced
Debenham Church of England Voluntary Controlled High School (URN 124860)
Address
Gracechurch Street, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6BL
Local authority
Suffolk · Mid Suffolk

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