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Beccles High School

East Suffolk, NR34 7BQSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Feb 2024
Progress 8
-1.15
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
28 1st-choice / 28 places
Ranking
#3,066
of 3,141 nationally

About Beccles High School

Beccles High School is a state secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds in East Suffolk, and the numbers tell a clear story about how local families view it. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 58 applications for 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07. All 28 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while demand exists, it is not intense enough to push out families who put it as their top choice. The school currently has 238 pupils against a capacity of 600, so there is significant room for growth. A striking 50.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, indicating the school serves a community with high levels of economic disadvantage. There is no parent view data available from the school, so it is not possible to gauge satisfaction directly, but the combination of oversubscription and spare capacity points to a school that is popular with a core group of local families but not yet a first-choice destination for the wider area.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCastle Hill, Beccles, East Suffolk, NR34 7BQ
HeadteacherChristopher Barns
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils238
Free School Meals (FSM)50.4%
School Capacity238 / 600 (40% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

7 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 19 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Dining HallPlaying FieldsLibraryScience LabsMusic RoomsICT SuiteAstro Turf

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

BadmintonFootballCricketHockeyBasketballAthleticsSwimmingRugbyRounders

Clubs & Activities

DebateNewspaperBook ClubOrchestraArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

SEN Unit
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultySEN UnitOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beccles High School

Beccles High School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.