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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 138274

Beccles High School

Free schools · Beccles · NR34 7BQ

Ages 11–16 · 182 pupils · Suffolk

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Attainment 8

30.9

Overall absence

15.8%

Admissions demand

0.93 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2024-02-07

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.15
−20+2
Attainment 830.9
English & maths grade 5+17%
English & maths grade 4+41%
EBacc entry0%

EBacc APS: 2.6

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence15.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)42.6%
Unauthorised3.1%
Authorised absence
12.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
10.9%
Enrolments in measure
329

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.93 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

28

Places offered

30

1st-preference offers

28

Total preferences (any rank)
53
Preferred offers (top 3)
30
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill30%

182 pupils · 600 places

Pupils on roll
182
Boys / girls
81 / 101
School capacity
600
Capacity fill
182 / 600 (30%)
Free school meals
50%
FSM pupils
91
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: SAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
SAPIENTIA EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Sapientia Education Trust
Headteacher
Mr Christopher Barns

Location

Address
Castle Hill
Postcode
NR34 7BQ
Town
Beccles
County
Suffolk
Local authority
Suffolk
District
East Suffolk
Constituency
Lowestoft
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Resourced provision
SEN unit
SEN unit places
21 on roll / 21 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Beccles, Suffolk, 182 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 50%. SEN provision includes: MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Beccles
14
Secondary schools in Beccles
2
Academies among open schools in Beccles
79% (11)
Open schools in NR34
14
Secondary in NR34
2
Open schools in Suffolk LA
366
Secondary in Suffolk LA
43

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BecclesNear NR34

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Christopher Barns
Telephone
01502718850
Website
www.beccleshighschool.org

Official links