Academy sponsor led · Suffolk

Ipswich Academy

11–18Ages
981Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136453URN

Braziers Wood Road, Ipswich, IP3 0SP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2024 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

0.9per place

0.7 below Suffolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Suffolk

182 applications for 200 places · 41st of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

40.3of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

29th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 8 May 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement

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

0.9applications per place, Year 7

0.7 below Suffolk median (1.6) 1.3 below England median (2.2)

182 applications · 200 places offered · 137 named it first

2026 0.9; Suffolk median median 1.6
2025 1.0; Suffolk median median 1.6
2024 1.0; Suffolk median median 1.6
2023 1.1; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 1.1; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 0.9; Suffolk median median 1.5
2018 1.0; Suffolk median median 1.5
2017 0.8; Suffolk median median 1.5
2016 0.9; Suffolk median median 1.5
2015 0.9; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Suffolk median in 0 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	200	182	0.9	137	0.69
Sep 2025	163	166	1.0	115	0.71
Sep 2024	205	214	1.0	159	0.78
Sep 2023	182	197	1.1	163	0.90
Sep 2022	196	225	1.2	181	0.92
Sep 2021	178	194	1.1	152	0.85
Sep 2020	185	219	1.2	166	0.90
Sep 2019	238	203	0.9	168	0.71
Sep 2018	145	138	1.0	105	0.72
Sep 2017	180	152	0.8	107	0.59
Sep 2016	158	138	0.9	82	0.52
Sep 2015	202	176	0.9	121	0.60
Sep 2014	145	168	1.2	133	0.92

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

201 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.329th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%30th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths53%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.54

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	201	40.3	33%	53%	–
2024/25	190	37.6	30%	48%	–
2023/24	237	35.7	29%	50%	−0.54
2022/23	155	34.7	30%	49%	−0.44

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

Ipswich AcademyThis school
This school

Requires improvement2024

0.9applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
Copleston High School
2.8 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2023

2.2applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy
2.9 km · Suffolk

2026

1.2applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
St Alban's Catholic High School
3.8 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2025

2.4applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
Chantry Academy
4.3 km · Suffolk

Good2024

1.6applications per place 36.7Attainment 8
Northgate High School
4.7 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.2applications per place 49.5Attainment 8
Holbrook Academy
5.0 km · Suffolk

2026

1.7applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Kesgrave High School
5.7 km · Suffolk

Good2022

2.0applications per place 47.0Attainment 8
Westbourne Academy
6.6 km · Suffolk

Special measures Graded · no overall grade2025

1.1applications per place 38.2Attainment 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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136453 · 935/4606
Trust: Paradigm Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,230 pupils · 981 on roll
Free school meals: 41.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Opened: 1 March 2011
Replaced: Holywells High School (URN 124843)
Address: Braziers Wood Road, Ipswich, IP3 0SP
Local authority: Suffolk · Ipswich

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