Sybil Andrews Academy Review 2026: A modern 11 to 16 academy with clear routines and improving outcomes

A relatively new secondary on the edge of Bury St Edmunds, this is a school built for the present rather than inherited from the past. It opened in September 2016 and moved into a new purpose built site in November 2016, giving it the feel of a contemporary learning environment with specialist spaces and a compact footprint.

The most recent Ofsted inspection judged the school Good following inspection on 11 and 12 October 2023, with all headline areas also graded Good.

Parents will notice two deliberate design choices in how the school presents itself. First, a strong emphasis on values, framed as kindness, courage and responsibility. Second, a pastoral model that aims to make a secondary school feel navigable for younger students, using long term tutor groups and a learning coach approach described in the school’s own welcome materials.

The defining feature here is that the culture is being built in real time. Schools founded in 2016 do not have decades of alumni tradition to lean on, so routines and relationships have to do more work. That shows up in the way the school talks about itself, with repeated references to mutual respect, clear expectations, and strong relationships between staff and students.

A second strand is inclusivity, not as a slogan but as a set of practical structures. The SEND information sets out a graduated approach to support, ranging from classroom adaptations to targeted interventions, and then Education, Health and Care Plan support where needed. It also describes an accessibility minded building design, including wheelchair access and lifts.

One distinctive element is The Abbey, described as a specialist cognition and learning hub within the wider academy. It supports a defined cohort of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans and blends specialist teaching with integration into subject specialist lessons where appropriate. For the right student, that creates a bridge between highly tailored support and participation in mainstream secondary life.

On the FindMySchool GCSE outcomes measure, the school is ranked 1403rd in England and 3rd in Bury St Edmunds for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data). This sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), which is a useful reference point for families seeking solid, dependable performance rather than extreme selectivity.

The headline Attainment 8 score is 47.5. Alongside that, the Progress 8 score of 0.15 indicates students, on average, make above average progress from their starting points by the end of Year 11. For many parents, that progress measure matters more than raw grades, because it speaks to how well the school moves children forward, not just who it admits.

At EBacc level, 26.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in the EBacc subjects. Taken together, the published figures suggest a school where improvement and consistency are priorities, with outcomes that compare reasonably in the local context.

Parents comparing nearby options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to set these outcomes alongside other Bury St Edmunds secondaries in one view.

The school’s strongest teaching story is coherence. The inspection evidence describes a broad curriculum delivered through carefully planned lessons, with subject content sequenced logically and a focus on building vocabulary so pupils can tackle complex ideas across subjects. That matters most in Key Stage 3, where gaps can widen quickly if curriculum design is weak.

Reading is treated as a cross school responsibility rather than a single department’s problem. The inspection narrative describes specific reading lessons, combined with reading expectations in other subjects, and targeted help for pupils who need extra support to develop fluency. For students arriving with weaker literacy, this kind of consistent approach can be the difference between coping and thriving by Year 9.

SEND practice is described with practical classroom habits rather than paperwork. The inspection evidence points to accurate identification of needs and increasing confidence in teachers’ adaptations, such as breaking complex learning into manageable steps. The SEND information expands on this with examples of reasonable adjustments and intervention options, which gives parents a clearer sense of what support looks like day to day.

Where Students Go Next

With an 11 to 16 age range, the key transition is post 16. Careers guidance is built into the school’s model across year groups, with leadership roles such as Careers Ambassadors highlighted in official materials. That is a strong signal for families who want structured help with next steps rather than a last minute Year 11 rush.

The school also highlights exposure beyond the classroom, including trips and activities, which supports wider aspirations and can broaden subject and career horizons for students who have not previously had those prompts.

Because there is no sixth form, families should plan early for the local sixth form and college landscape. The practical implication is simple: the right destination for your child at 16 should be part of the Year 9 and Year 10 conversation, particularly where subject choices at Key Stage 4 feed into post 16 options.

Year 7 places are coordinated through Suffolk County Council, with a Published Admission Number of 150 for normal year of entry.

For September 2026 entry, Suffolk’s published secondary timeline sets a clear sequence. Applications open from 12 September 2025, the national closing date is Friday 31 October 2025, and National Offer Day falls on Monday 2 March 2026.

Open events appear to follow a familiar annual rhythm. The school’s admissions information references an open evening in September, which fits typical secondary practice, but families should always check the latest date and booking arrangements on the school website as details change year to year.

If you are assessing realistic admission chances across multiple schools, it is sensible to use the FindMySchoolMap Search to compare travel practicality and to avoid building a shortlist around assumptions.

Pastoral care is set up to create continuity. Tutor groups are intended to stay together through the full five years, and heads of year are described as staying with their cohort as it moves through the school. That model can work well for students who benefit from familiar adult relationships and a team that builds long term knowledge of what motivates them.

The school also describes a layered staffing structure: tutors and heads of year, plus non teaching pastoral officers who can act as mentors and a consistent supportive presence. The SENDCo is named in the school’s SEND information and sits within the senior inclusion structure, which tends to make coordination faster when support needs escalate.

Safeguarding information is easy to locate and names the safeguarding team roles, including designated safeguarding lead and deputies. Online safety is treated as part of the taught and assembly programme, which matters given the reality of peer to peer online pressures in secondary years.

The enrichment programme is framed as a core part of the school experience rather than an optional add on. The school points students toward leadership roles alongside clubs, including Sports Leaders, Science Leaders, Student Librarians, subject ambassadors, and Peer Mentors. For students who need a confidence pathway that is not purely academic, these structured roles can provide it.

The club offer is usefully specific in published schedules. Examples include a STEM CREST Award programme, Eco School, Japanese Club, iLearn Digital Leaders, Creative Writing, Photography, Art Club, and Duke of Edinburgh activities.

The January 2026 enrichment timetable also shows the school leaning into niche interest options that often increase engagement for students who do not see themselves as “sporty” or “performing arts” types. Astronomy, Chess, Sewing Bee, and Magic: The Gathering sit alongside after school sport such as Badminton, Girls Football, and Netball Club.

The school day starts with an 08:30 arrival time and finishes at 15:10 for all year groups. Lessons run across five periods with a morning break and a lunch break built in.

For transport planning, Suffolk’s admissions materials emphasise that travel eligibility and arrangements depend on individual circumstances and published guidance. Parents should check travel practicalities alongside admissions criteria early, particularly if you are comparing several schools across Bury St Edmunds and surrounding villages.

• No sixth form. Students will need a post 16 destination at the end of Year 11. Families should explore local sixth forms and colleges early so options choices in Key Stage 4 support the next step.

• A newer school building its identity. Opening in 2016 brings the benefit of a modern site, but it also means tradition is still being created. This suits families who value clarity and forward planning over long established rituals.

• Behaviour consistency is a work in progress for a minority. Clear routines are established, but official improvement points include ensuring behaviour expectations are met by all pupils and reducing disruption in some lessons.

• Specialist support is strong, but capacity is finite. The Abbey hub is designed for a specific cohort of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans, so parents of children with higher level needs should ask early about suitability and pathways.

This is a modern, structured 11 to 16 academy that has put significant effort into improving consistency and creating clear routines for learning. Outcomes sit comfortably in the England middle band with above average progress, and the enrichment programme includes both mainstream and specialist interest options.

It suits families who want a straightforward, values led school experience with a strong pastoral framework and a contemporary campus, and who are comfortable planning ahead for post 16 education elsewhere.