King Edward VI CEVC School

King Edward VI CEVC School has effectively maintained the standards identified in its previous inspection and continues to provide a compelling educational experience for its students. Pupils enjoy attending the school, benefiting from a well-organized curriculum and a supportive environment that enhances their learning and well-being. The introduction of new behavior expectations has led to improvements in the school atmosphere, fostering a culture of kindness and support amongst students. The school's commitment to personal development and mental health education further strengthens its positive impact on student growth. While the school demonstrates many strengths, particularly in its curriculum design and teacher collaboration, there are areas for improvement. Inconsistent questioning techniques by teachers may hinder some pupils from achieving their full potential. Additionally, the school needs to increase engagement in extra-curricular activities, particularly among disadvantaged pupils. Overall, the school is progressing well and is positioned to address these challenges for continued growth.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a wide range of subjects and activities.
• School has a coherent and well-structured curriculum.
• Teachers possess a high level of subject knowledge.
• Effective support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Strong focus on personal development and mental health education.
• Improvements in behavior due to new expectations.
• The school successfully engages with parents and keeps them informed.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent use of effective questioning techniques by teachers.
• Low engagement of some pupils in extra-curricular activities.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at King Edward VI CEVC School attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 25.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 8.1% of pupils at King Edward VI CEVC School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 4 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 King Edward VI CEVC School had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 8.1% of pupils at King Edward VI CEVC School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 7.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 King Edward VI CEVC School received £8,190 and spent £8,491 for each of its 1,190 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £63,000 (£53 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bury St Edmunds · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

What is King Edward VI CEVC School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for King Edward VI CEVC School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was King Edward VI CEVC School last inspected by Ofsted?

King Edward VI CEVC School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does King Edward VI CEVC School have?

King Edward VI CEVC School has 1,189 pupils on roll.

What age range does King Edward VI CEVC School cover?

King Edward VI CEVC School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are King Edward VI CEVC School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.4, and 37% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is King Edward VI CEVC School?

King Edward VI CEVC School is at Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3BH.