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OpenOfsted: GoodURN 147162

The Bridge School

Academy special sponsor led · Ipswich · IP8 3ND

Ages 4–19 · 257 pupils · Suffolk

School website

Ofsted

Good

Overall absence

9.7%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-06-27

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
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)

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence9.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)32.4%
Unauthorised3.4%
Authorised absence
6.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.9%
Enrolments in measure
170

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill113%

257 pupils · 228 places

Pupils on roll
257
Boys / girls
188 / 69
School capacity
228
Capacity fill
257 / 228 (113%)
Free school meals
44.7%
FSM pupils
113
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy special sponsor led

Age range

Ages 4–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

3 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: UNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Academy trust
UNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Sponsor
Unity Schools Partnership
Headteacher
Ms Tina Sharman

Location

Address
Sprites Lane
Postcode
IP8 3ND
Town
Ipswich
County
Suffolk
Local authority
Suffolk
District
Babergh
Constituency
South Suffolk
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

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

SEN types
VI - Visual Impairment; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; PD - Physical Disability; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
SEN unit
Resourced places
234 on roll / 228 capacity
SEN unit places
20 on roll / 20 capacity

Local context

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

Mixed academy special sponsor led, Ages 4–19, in Ipswich, Suffolk, 257 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, special school. Free school meals: 44.7%. SEN provision includes: VI - Visual Impairment; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication….

Open schools in Ipswich
99
Academies among open schools in Ipswich
63% (62)
Open schools in IP8
8
Open schools in Suffolk LA
366

Nearby schools

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

Compare with theseAll in IpswichNear IP8

  • One Sixth Form College

    Academy 16-19 converter · 16 plus

    Ipswich · IP8 3SU · Suffolk

    Ages 16–19

    • FSM0.0%

    0.3 miles away

  • Sprites Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Ipswich · IP2 0SA · Suffolk

    Ages 4–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence5.1%
    • FSM28.1%

    0.4 miles away

  • Gusford Community Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Ipswich · IP2 9LQ · Suffolk

    Ages 4–11

    • KS248%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM33.2%

    0.5 miles away

  • Copdock Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Community school · Primary

    Ipswich · IP8 3HY · Suffolk

    Ages 5–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence3.2%
    • FSM6.0%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Oaks Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ipswich · IP2 0NR · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS264%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM33.1%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Willows Primary School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy converter · Primary

    Ipswich · IP2 9ER · Suffolk

    Ages 4–11

    • KS220%
    • Absence8.9%
    • FSM60.6%

    1.1 miles away

  • Chantry Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Ipswich · IP2 9LR · Suffolk

    Ages 11–16

    • Att835.5
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+32%
    • Absence8.7%

    1.1 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Tina Sharman
Telephone
01473556200
Website
www.thebridgeschool.org.uk

Official links