Sir Bobby Robson School

Sir Bobby Robson School, recently inspected for the first time, demonstrates a solid performance with an overall effectiveness grade of good. The school caters to pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs, many of whom return to education after significant breaks. The warm environment fosters trust between pupils and staff, contributing to improved behavior, attendance, and engagement in learning. Parents express high satisfaction, reflecting a positive community spirit within the school. The school prioritizes reading as a gateway to learning across subjects, enabling pupils to make good overall progress. The revised curriculum covers a broad range of subjects, allowing students to achieve various qualifications. However, the implementation of the curriculum has not been fully assessed by new subject leaders, indicating room for improvement. Additionally, attendance remains a concern, with some pupils not attending as regularly as necessary, impacting their overall achievement.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on building pupils' confidence and enjoyment of school.
• High expectations for behavior and achievement are consistently enforced.
• Pupils experience a calm and purposeful learning environment.
• Effective support for improving pupils' attendance by the welfare officer.
• Well-structured personal, social, and health education curriculum.
• Strong partnerships with parents and community.
• Valuable professional development opportunities for staff.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should.
• New subject leaders have not fully evaluated curriculum provision.

In 2024–25 pupils at Sir Bobby Robson School attended 81.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 47.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 39.4% of pupils at Sir Bobby Robson School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was 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 Sir Bobby Robson School had 3.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Sir Bobby Robson School had 60 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Sir Bobby Robson School received £34,713 and spent £33,735 for each of its 66 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £20,000 (£305 per pupil).

Across all 39 schools of Unity Schools Partnership, income was £8,494 and spending £8,500 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ipswich · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

Sir Bobby Robson School is part of Unity Schools Partnership, which runs 40 schools. The nearest others:

• The Bridge School Ipswich
• Felixstowe School Felixstowe
• Langer Primary Academy Felixstowe
• Thomas Gainsborough School Sudbury
• Wells Hall Primary School Sudbury
• Woodhall Primary School Sudbury
• Glemsford Primary Academy Sudbury
• Sybil Andrews Academy Bury St. Edmunds
• Abbots Green Primary Academy Bury St Edmunds
• Sir Peter Hall School Bury St. Edmunds

What is Sir Bobby Robson School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sir Bobby Robson School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Sir Bobby Robson School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sir Bobby Robson School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Sir Bobby Robson School have?

Sir Bobby Robson School has 60 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sir Bobby Robson School cover?

Sir Bobby Robson School for pupils aged 8 to 16.

What are Sir Bobby Robson School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 9.7, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Sir Bobby Robson School?

Sir Bobby Robson School is at Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9FA.