Stour Valley Community School
99%
Capacity
569
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Stour Valley Community School
Stour Valley Community School, a mixed 11-16 secondary in West Suffolk, holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2023. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.14 is the single most informative exam metric, showing that pupils overall achieve slightly below the national average progress from their starting points. That figure sits marginally above the Suffolk local authority average of -0.17, placing the school 21st out of 48 similar schools in the county. The Attainment 8 score of 48.7 gives a useful snapshot of absolute achievement, while the basics measure shows 48.7% of pupils secured a grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSEs, rising to 68.7% at grade 4 or above. The school’s Progress 8 banding is classified as Average, and its national ranking sits around the 60th percentile among state secondaries.
Drilling into the Progress 8 breakdown reveals a mixed picture. Pupils made slightly positive progress in maths (0.04) and the EBacc subjects (0.04), but progress in English was notably weaker at -0.58. The EBacc entry rate is low at 5.2%, with only 2.6% of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score of 3.96 reflects this limited take-up. Compared with its previous Ofsted inspection in 2013, which also rated overall effectiveness as Good, the school has maintained its rating across all key areas including leadership, behaviour, and personal development, all of which were judged Good in 2023. The school has no sixth form, so all pupils leave at 16.
Stour Valley is a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 199 applications for 114 places, with 130 first-preference applications and 109 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. The school caters for a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Facilities include science labs, an ICT suite, astro turf, a sports hall, and a gymnasium, with sports on offer ranging from rowing and swimming to rugby and netball. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, coding, drama, and choir. With 16.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly typical state secondary demographic. It suits families who want a Good-rated community school with solid facilities and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable with a curriculum that doesn’t heavily emphasise the EBacc pathway.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cavendish Road, Sudbury, West Suffolk, CO10 8PJ |
| Headteacher | Rachel Kelly |
| Local Authority | Suffolk |
| Number of Pupils | 569 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.9% |
| School Capacity | 569 / 575 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.14)
1882nd of 3,141
Nationally
218th of 350
In East of England
6th of 12
In West Suffolk
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
2022/2328%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 116 pupils).
- FE college51%
- School sixth form (stay)28%
- Sixth form college14%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained1%
98% 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed114
199
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
130 families put this school as their 1st choice (65% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:20 – 15:00
Source: stourvalleycommunityschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.2%
- Mixed3.3%
- White (other)3.0%
- Asian0.2%
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.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stour Valley Community School
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
Cavendish Road, Sudbury
West Suffolk, CO10 8PJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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