Claydon High School Review 2026: A Focused Community School with Strong Local Ties

Claydon High School serves a semi-rural catchment just north of Ipswich, offering a mainstream secondary education for approximately 770 students. The school functions as a key pillar of the Claydon and Barham communities, maintaining a size that allows staff to maintain a strong individual knowledge of their students. As an academy within the Penrose Learning Trust, it benefits from shared resources and a collaborative approach to curriculum development. The 2024 GCSE results show a school performing in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), reflecting a solid and dependable academic environment. With a roll of roughly 770, the school feels purposeful without the overwhelming scale of larger urban secondaries.

The atmosphere at Claydon High School is described by the community as friendly and well ordered. The school occupies a site on Church Lane, where the physical environment is kept tidy and functional, supporting a focused learning culture. Since the appointment of the current Headteacher, Mr Mark Ismay, in January 2024, the school has reinforced its commitment to high standards of behaviour and personal responsibility.

The school operates as a mixed-sex institution where students from Year 7 to Year 11 are encouraged to take an active role in school life. There is a visible emphasis on the school's expectations, which promote respect and hard work. This ethos is supported by a house system that fosters healthy competition and a sense of belonging across different year groups. The school's identity is closely tied to its local surroundings, and it maintains strong links with primary feeder schools in the Gipping Valley.

In 2024, the school's academic performance placed it 2,530th in England according to FindMySchool rankings. Within the Ipswich local area, the school ranks 11th, representing a solid performance for a non-selective community secondary.

The Attainment 8 score, which measures achievement across eight key subjects, was 44.1 in the most recent measurement period. While the Progress 8 score of -0.18 suggests that students make slightly less progress than the England average from their starting points, the school remains a competitive choice within the Suffolk state sector. In terms of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), 8.3% of students achieved a grade 5 or above across the core subjects, against an England average of 40.5% for entry. This indicates that while the top-end academic results are present, the school serves a broad range of abilities.

The curriculum is designed to be broad and balanced, ensuring that students have access to a wide range of subjects before specialising for their GCSEs. In Key Stage 3, there is a clear focus on the core disciplines of English, Mathematics, and Science, supplemented by humanities, languages, and creative arts. The school utilizes a structured approach, helping students to organize their revision and take ownership of their learning.

Teachers at Claydon High School are noted for their commitment to professional development. In Key Stage 4, students can choose from a variety of academic and vocational pathways, including BTEC options alongside traditional GCSEs. The school has worked to ensure that the curriculum remains ambitious, particularly in its efforts to encourage more students to pursue the EBacc suite of subjects.

Where Students Go Next

As Claydon High School does not have its own sixth form, the transition at age 16 is a critical phase. The school provides extensive careers guidance to ensure students are prepared for their next steps. The majority of students progress to local post-16 providers in Ipswich and the surrounding area.

Suffolk One, Northgate Sixth Form, and Suffolk New College are common destinations for Claydon leavers. The school tracks its leavers closely, and its internal records show a high percentage of students successfully moving into further education, apprenticeships, or employment. The transition process is supported by careers fairs and 1-to-1 interviews with advisors.

Claydon High School is a popular choice and is currently oversubscribed. In the most recent admissions cycle, there were 196 applications for 155 available places. This reflects a subscription proportion of approximately 1.26, meaning the school remains consistently in demand.

Admissions are coordinated by Suffolk County Council. Priority is given to looked-after children, students with an EHCP naming the school, and those living within the defined catchment area (which includes Claydon, Barham, and Great Blakenham). The last child admitted under the distance criterion for the 2025 entry lived 1.869 miles from the school. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Fees & Financial Aid

As Claydon High School is a state-funded academy, there are no tuition fees for students to attend. The school is free to all pupils.

The school operates a charging and remissions policy for optional extras. This includes costs for board and lodgings on residential trips, individual music tuition, and certain materials for practical subjects. Financial support is available through Pupil Premium funding for eligible families, which can cover the cost of essential trips, revision materials, and uniform. Parents should contact the school office to discuss specific hardship support or eligibility for remissions.

Pastoral care is organized around a year-group structure, with each student assigned a form tutor who acts as the primary point of contact. The school places a high value on mental health and wellbeing, providing access to a dedicated pastoral team and staff trained in emotional support for students requiring additional help.

The vertical elements of the house system allow older students to mentor younger peers, which helps to foster a supportive social fabric. Regular assemblies focus on character building and digital safety, reflecting a modern approach to the challenges facing teenagers.

The extracurricular offer at Claydon is varied, with a particular strength in the performing arts and physical education. The school's sports facilities support a range of teams, including football, netball, and athletics, with many students representing the school in local Suffolk leagues.

Specific clubs often mentioned by students include the Robotics Club, the School Choir, and various student leadership roles. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a significant part of the school's enrichment programme, with high numbers of students participating in the Bronze and Silver levels. For students interested in the arts, the annual school production is a major event that involves both performers and technical crews.

The school day typically runs from 8:50am to 3:15pm. Claydon is well served by school bus routes covering the Gipping Valley and the outskirts of Ipswich. For those traveling by car, there is limited parking on Church Lane, and parents are encouraged to use designated drop-off points to manage traffic. The school does not publish specific wraparound care details for secondary students, but a variety of after-school clubs run until approximately 4:15pm.

• Oversubscribed Status: With more applications than places, those living outside the immediate catchment area face a challenge in securing a spot. Families should have a clear "Plan B" when applying.
• No Sixth Form: Students must be prepared to move to a new environment at age 16. While the school manages this transition well, it does mean a change in peer group and commute after Year 11.
• Academic Progress: The Progress 8 score is currently slightly below the England average. While many students achieve highly, parents should look closely at how the school supports different ability levels during open evening visits.
• Semi-Rural Location: While the setting is peaceful, transport for extracurricular activities can be a challenge for students living in more remote parts of the catchment without dedicated late-bus provision.

Claydon High School is a solid, dependable community school that successfully balances academic expectations with a strong pastoral heart. It is best suited to local families within the Gipping Valley who value a school that is small enough to be personal but large enough to offer a competitive curriculum. The main challenge for prospective parents is the high level of demand for places, making proximity to the school a deciding factor.