Stradbroke High School in Suffolk celebrates Ofsted success

Stradbroke High School, near Eye, received the report at the end of 2023 after an Ofsted inspection on November 21 and 22.

As it was an ungraded inspection, the school’s current Ofsted rating of Good could not change, but the report recognised that the grade “might be Outstanding if a graded inspection were carried out now”.

After a school is rated Good, inspectors usually return once every four or so years to confirm that the school remains good, in an ungraded inspection, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

If they then find evidence that the school would receive a higher or lower grade, the next inspection will be graded, carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Inspectors praised the atmosphere of the school, which feels like “a large family”, where pupils are confident and very complimentary about their time there.

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They recognised how “unkindness happens very rarely” and pupils feel “exceptionally safe”.

Pupils work hard and achieve the highest academic standards, they participate in a variety of clubs and activities, and teachers teach effectively, allowing pupils with additional needs to also achieve “exceptionally well”.

Headteacher Karen Millar said: ‘I am immensely proud of the staff and students.

"To have the journey the school has been on recognised and for the inspection team to note our exceptional level of ambition is testament to the commitment and skill of our highly trained staff.

"As a small school, we have never allowed our size to limit the range of opportunities and quality of education we provide."

Jonathan Taylor, CEO of Sapientia Education Trust, added: ‘Stradbroke High School has gone from strength to strength and was the highest performing secondary school in Suffolk for GCSE results in both Summer 2022 and Summer 2023.

"It is a fabulous school, and we are very proud of this exceptional Ofsted report."