School Chooser

King Edward VI CEVC School

Secondary · ages 11-16MixedChurch of England1,189 pupilsBury St EdmundsSuffolk
School Chooser Score
36
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 28 to 46
Out of 100. Better than 20% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
Strong pass in English and maths38%England 46%
Attendance90.1%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families22%A bit fewer than most schools
Places11 spare1,189 pupils, 1,200 places
Pupils per teacher17.9School workforce census
Average A level gradeC+2018/19

King Edward VI CEVC School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Bury St Edmunds for boys and girls aged 11 to 16. It has 1,189 pupils and room for 1,200. About 22 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 36 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 20% of the 50 schools most like it.

Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3BH01284 761393king-ed.suffolk.sch.ukMr Tom Grey headteacherAll details

Ofsted

Ofsted hasn't published an inspection for this school yet.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

229 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score45.4
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths38%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths63%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.10In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 49.549.520182019: 47.947.920192022: 49.749.720222023: 45.345.320232024: 42.942.920242025: 45.445.42025
Since 2018: -4.1Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018SuffolkEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11229234239237214308
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 845.442.945.349.747.949.543.446.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.10+0.05+0.21+0.26+0.28
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths38%39%40%49%48%47%40%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths63%65%62%74%69%76%62%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.933.723.924.264.184.293.764.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry17%18%21%22%25%31%28%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged31.131.732.235.239.842.1
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged48.445.748.754.351.350.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers26.126.331.024.029.3
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers66.069.672.365.263.2

Subjects

Results came out for 24 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Music85%grades 9 to 5, England 61% · 109th of 395 schools
French84%grades 9 to 5, England 60% · 322nd of 1,974 schools
Computer Science73%grades 9 to 5, England 56%
Biology95%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 804th of 2,570 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Business (31% here, 51% across England), Art and Design (40% here, 58% across England), Social Studies (38% here, 54% across England), Film Studies (39% here, 52% across England).

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics222 entries · 33rd of 42 in Suffolk
43%England 53%
English Language222 entries · 16th of 42 in Suffolk
52%England 54%
English Literature217 entries · 19th of 42 in Suffolk
52%England 58%
Combined Science165 entries · 24th of 41 in Suffolk
30%England 36%
Social Studies121 entries · 11th of 17 in Suffolk
38%England 54%
Geography114 entries · 21st of 42 in Suffolk
43%England 51%
History109 entries · 11th of 42 in Suffolk
52%England 52%
Art and Design94 entries · 31st of 40 in Suffolk
40%England 58%
Business75 entries · 18th of 24 in Suffolk
31%England 51%
Biology56 entries · 9th of 31 in Suffolk
95%England 82%
Chemistry56 entries · 14th of 31 in Suffolk
88%England 81%
Physics56 entries · 15th of 31 in Suffolk
89%England 82%
Design & Technology37 entries · 7th of 24 in Suffolk
54%England 50%
Food Preparation & Nutrition36 entries · 8th of 21 in Suffolk
44%England 52%
French25 entries · 4th of 24 in Suffolk
84%England 60%
Physical Education25 entries · 16th of 26 in Suffolk
48%England 56%
Religious Studies25 entries · 4th of 16 in Suffolk
68%England 60%
Film Studies23 entries · 2nd of 5 in Suffolk
39%England 52%
Music20 entries · 1st of 6 in Suffolk
85%England 61%
Spanish19 entries
63%England 54%
Drama18 entries
61%England 60%
Economics17 entries
59%England 70%
73%England 56%
0%England 49%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics22218%43%70%53%2,259 of 3,211
English Language22223%52%67%54%1,581 of 3,210
English Literature21719%52%71%58%1,876 of 3,202
Combined Science1656%30%55%36%1,841 of 3,084
Social Studies12117%38%51%54%828 of 1,043
Geography11422%43%55%51%1,891 of 3,116
History10929%52%63%52%1,421 of 3,126
Art and Design9421%40%50%58%2,211 of 2,818
Business7516%31%51%51%1,469 of 1,806
Biology5657%95%100%82%804 of 2,570
Chemistry5646%88%100%81%1,230 of 2,537
Physics5655%89%98%82%1,148 of 2,546
Design & Technology3722%54%73%50%604 of 1,478
Food Preparation & Nutrition3617%44%50%52%673 of 1,098
French2544%84%84%60%322 of 1,974
Physical Education2536%48%64%56%983 of 1,559
Religious Studies2552%68%84%60%702 of 1,825
Film Studies234%39%61%52%91 of 122
Music2035%85%85%61%109 of 395
Spanish1932%63%79%54%
Drama1811%61%78%60%
Economics1724%59%77%70%
Computer Science1553%73%80%56%
Other Modern Languages100%0%0%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2019

389 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+31.9 points per entry
A level progress+0.15Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better11%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished98%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure2019201820172016
Students389372378364
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry31.9331.2132.9931.35
Average A level gradeC+CC+C
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS33.9435.2337.1034.88
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects11%9%15%11%
A level progressA level value added+0.15+0.04+0.14-0.07
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed98%96%99%

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
31.148.4
Gap 17.3England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
13%43%
Gap 31 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
44.246.3
Gap 2.1England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Plenty of spare places1,198 pupils for 1,575 places, 2024/25
76% full

377 places were empty (24% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Suffolk council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,189Census January 2026
Places1,20099% full
Pupils from low-income families22%22% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English7%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support8%96 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan7%83 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.248 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils6%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)21%£276,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls626 / 563
White British pupils79%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 13 pupils, for hearing impairment.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Suffolk with hearing impairment provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (72), Autistic spectrum disorder (26), emotional and mental health (25), language and communications needs (19), Moderate learning difficulty (17), Hearing impairment (16).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,1891,1991,1971,1961,1931,180
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals22%20%19%18%17%15%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language7%7%6%6%7%6%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support12%9%19%17%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%4%4%4%3%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 90.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance90.1%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school25.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils35.12024/25, 4 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission3.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence9.9%9.5%10.1%10.1%5.4%5.1%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.3%5.3%5.8%6.8%3.7%3.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence3.6%4.2%4.3%3.2%1.7%1.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence25.2%26.0%28.9%31.4%14.8%11.1%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate35.129.921.813.49.8
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions45300

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 239 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training95%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 88%, compared with 97% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training95%96%97%97%
Education91%91%92%94%
Apprenticeship1%3%3%2%
Work3%3%2%1%
Not in education, work or training3%4%2%3%

After sixth form

Where the 170 pupils who left in 2016/17 were a year later.

Still in education, work or trainingand stayed there for at least six months

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training74%England 69%
Top-third universities38%England 24%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship1%England 1%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers66.4full-time equivalent, 76 people
Pupils per teacher17.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers99%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants29.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,446
Teachers who left in the year11%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher9.42024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,800England £8,524. Total £9.4m
Income per pupil£7,598England £8,454. Total £9.1m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,852England £4,610
Money in reserve5%Not much put by: £421k, £351 per pupil. England 5%
Money in against money out-£242kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,800spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m22112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate156 per 1,000 people71% higher than the England average
Typical house price£290,000West Suffolk
Nearest bus stop130 mKing Edward VI School, 8 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Bury St Edmunds County High SchoolAcademy650 m657Report card 202655Compare
St Benedict's Catholic SchoolAcademy820 m968Not inspected70Compare
Learning Support, Western Area Education OfficeMiscellaneous1.0 milesNot inspectedCompare
Sybil Andrews AcademyAcademy2.4 miles657Good 202363Compare
Thurston Community CollegeCouncil4.5 miles1,512Good 202451Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares King Edward VI CEVC School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats20%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 36 is 19 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 8 · middle 55 · highest 97100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than King Edward VI CEVC School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Thurston Community CollegeCouncil4.5 miles1,512Good 202451Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 36 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 36% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 28 to 46. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
-0.07
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 229 pupils
Ofsted inspection0%no data
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.04
DfE progress measure; 229 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.10
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.05
2024/25; 1,236 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
-0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 229 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.04
239 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is King Edward VI CEVC School a good school?

It is about average. King Edward VI CEVC School scores 36 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 20% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 28 to 46, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

How good are King Edward VI CEVC School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 38% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 45.4, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does King Edward VI CEVC School have?

1,189 pupils aged 11 to 16 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,200 places, so it is 99% full.

Is King Edward VI CEVC School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 377 places were empty in 2024/25 (24% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at King Edward VI CEVC School?

Pupils were in school 90.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 25% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at King Edward VI CEVC School?

The average class had 24.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 6% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does King Edward VI CEVC School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for hearing impairment. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does King Edward VI CEVC School have a sixth form?

No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship; 95% of 2022/23 leavers were still in education, work or training six months on.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3BH
Telephone
01284 761393
Website
www.king-ed.suffolk.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mr Tom Grey
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-16
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Local authority
Suffolk
Ward
Tollgate
Constituency
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Setting
Urban: Further from a major town or city
URN
124856 · LAESTAB 9354500 · UKPRN 10003634

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from