The best and worst Suffolk secondary schools during the last academic year have been revealed in the latest government figures for the county.

The government released the first secondary school performance data since the Covid pandemic on Thursday (December 14).

The Department For Education data breaks down performance for the educational year 2022-23 based on results, measuring the progress pupils made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared with pupils across the country.

The performance is based on results in up to eight qualifications, which include English, maths, three English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and three other additional approved qualifications.

A score above zero means pupils made more progress, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2.

A score below zero means pupils made less progress, on average, than pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2.

Debenham High School, near Stowmarket, took the top place in Suffolk in the overall performance at end of key stage 4 this year.

The academy performed well above average, at a score of 0.71. Pupils at the school achieve more than half a grade higher in each qualification on average, compared to similar pupils across the country.

East Anglian Daily Times: Simon Martin, headteacher at Debenham High SchoolSimon Martin, headteacher at Debenham High School (Image: Archant)

At the lower end of the table, SET Beccles School, part of the Seckford Education Trust, is said to have performed well below average, with a score of -1.71.

Pupils here achieve over half a grade lower in each qualification on average, compared to similar pupils across the country.

According to the figures, the results in the last academic year cannot be directly compared to the previous year as a different grading approach was used to take into account the disruption pupils faced during the Covid pandemic.

East Anglian Daily Times: Neil Ketteringham, SET Beccles School headteacherNeil Ketteringham, SET Beccles School headteacher (Image: Seckford Education Trust)

Other factors that should be taken into account include how results between January 2020 and August 2021 are not included in the calculations for the pupils in the 2022/23 measures, and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on the schools and pupils.