Academy converter · Suffolk

Sir John Leman High School

11–18Ages
1,404Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137055URN

Ringsfield Road, Beccles, NR34 9PG · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

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

419 applications for 265 places · 22nd of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.7of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

12th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 14 April 2026Published 7 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching		Expected standard
Achievement		Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision		Expected standard
Leadership and governance		Expected standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

14 April 2026
Report card · 7 Expected standard
12 May 2022
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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

close to Suffolk median (1.6) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

419 applications · 265 places offered · 277 named it first

2026 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2025 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2024 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2023 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 2.0; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 1.7; Suffolk median median 1.5
2018 2.0; Suffolk median median 1.5
2017 2.0; Suffolk median median 1.5
2016 2.0; Suffolk median median 1.5
2015 2.1; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 1.8; 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	265	419	1.6	277	1.05
Sep 2025	233	382	1.6	227	0.97
Sep 2024	266	410	1.5	269	1.01
Sep 2023	268	425	1.6	283	1.06
Sep 2022	250	401	1.6	256	1.02
Sep 2021	251	450	1.8	244	0.97
Sep 2020	238	485	2.0	327	1.37
Sep 2019	249	434	1.7	279	1.12
Sep 2018	240	488	2.0	298	1.24
Sep 2017	239	482	2.0	292	1.22
Sep 2016	239	487	2.0	270	1.13
Sep 2015	250	518	2.1	297	1.19
Sep 2014	210	367	1.8	189	0.90

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

237 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.712th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths50%10th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths72%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.22

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	237	46.7	50%	72%	–
2024/25	244	44.8	41%	68%	–
2023/24	239	46.1	44%	72%	−0.22
2022/23	233	48.0	44%	75%	+0.18

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

Sir John Leman High SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.6applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
Beccles High School
1.0 km · Suffolk

2026

2.2applications per place 25.4Attainment 8
Bungay High School
7.8 km · Suffolk

2026

1.5applications per place 42.1Attainment 8
Hobart High School
10.5 km · Norfolk

Good2023

1.4applications per place 46.3Attainment 8
Pakefield High School
11.3 km · Suffolk

Good2023

1.7applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
East Point Academy
11.7 km · Suffolk

2026

1.4applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics
12.8 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 46.6Attainment 8
Ormiston Denes Academy
13.7 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Ormiston Venture Academy
16.6 km · Norfolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 45.7Attainment 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 converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137055 · 935/4056
Trust: Kingfisher Schools Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,476 pupils · 1,404 on roll
Free school meals: 22.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: Sir John Leman High School (URN 124817)
Address: Ringsfield Road, Beccles, NR34 9PG
Local authority: Suffolk · East Suffolk

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