Newmarket Academy
90%
Capacity
813
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Newmarket Academy
Newmarket Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 203 applications for 134 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.51. Of those 203 applicants, 121 listed the school as their first preference, and all of those received an offer. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is led by headteacher Martin Witter and is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023. However, the inspection report flagged behaviour and attitudes as requiring improvement, while leadership and management, quality of education, and personal development were all judged Good. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, with the previous inspection in 2017 also awarding Good overall.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is -0.5, which is below the national average and places it in the bottom 50 of schools nationally. This is also significantly lower than the Suffolk local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.17. The Attainment 8 score is 42.5, and 38.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 61.3% achieving a grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.91, with 10.6% of pupils entering and achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the West Suffolk local authority area, the school ranks 10th out of 12 schools by Progress 8, and 37th out of 48 similar schools across the wider Suffolk area. Its strongest Progress 8 element is maths at -0.3, while open subjects are weakest at -0.72.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including playing fields, tennis courts, an astro turf pitch, a sports hall, science labs, art studios, and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, gymnastics, dance, football, netball, tennis, rowing, and rounders, while extracurricular clubs include Model UN, film club, science club, coding, and debate. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 20.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is a good fit for families seeking a well-equipped secondary with strong extracurricular breadth, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to compare Progress 8 scores with higher-performing local alternatives like Debenham High School.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Exning Road, Newmarket, West Suffolk, CB8 0EB |
| Headteacher | Martin Witter |
| Local Authority | Suffolk |
| Number of Pupils | 813 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.5% |
| School Capacity | 813 / 900 (90% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 25 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.50)
2606th of 3,141
Nationally
300th of 350
In East of England
10th of 12
In West Suffolk
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2317%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 126 pupils).
- FE college52%
- School sixth form (stay)17%
- Sixth form college17%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed134
203
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
121 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.5%
- White (other)13.2%
- Asian8.0%
- Mixed5.9%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newmarket Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Exning Road, Newmarket
West Suffolk, CB8 0EB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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