Glade Academy

About Glade Academy

Glade Academy’s Key Stage 2 results sit noticeably below the Suffolk local authority average, which is a key point for parents to weigh up. In the 2023/24 academic year, 43% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a LA average of 58%. That 15-point gap is significant. The school’s maths and reading average scores — 101 and 102 respectively — are both just a shade above the national baseline of 100, but the proportion of children hitting the higher standard in reading (8%) and maths (5%) is low, and no pupils reached the higher threshold in writing. In the West Suffolk local authority ranking, Glade sits at 178 out of 253 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the area. Its ranking score of 43 puts it in the bottom 50 tier nationally, and it ranks 39th out of 44 schools in the West Suffolk constituency specifically.

Ofsted inspectors last visited in May 2022 and rated the school Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The early years provision was also judged Good. This is consistent with the school’s previous inspection in 2013, which also awarded a Good rating for overall effectiveness and leadership. So while academic outcomes are below the LA average, the school is not struggling in terms of behaviour or leadership — inspectors saw a school that is functioning well. The Progress 8 measure is not available for this school, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Parents looking at the raw results will want to consider whether the school’s Good Ofsted judgement and stable leadership offset the below-average attainment figures.

Glade Academy is a small primary with 189 pupils against a capacity of 420, so there is plenty of physical space. It offers a broad set of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, sports hall, ICT suite and a chapel. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26: 30 places attracted 39 applications, with 28 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 1.3. It has a relatively high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 25.9%, well above the national average, which may reflect the catchment. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Clubs include gardening, eco club, art club and coding, and sports range from football and cricket to swimming and dance. This is a school that suits families who value a supportive, well-equipped environment and are comfortable with results that sit below the local average.

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