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Samuel Ward Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Chalkstone Way, Haverhill CB9 0LD · samuelward.co.uk · 01440 761511

On the mapSearch near CB9 0LD

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Nov 2022
GCSEs, 2024/25
43.8
average Attainment 8 score. Suffolk 42.8, England 46
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,076
86% of 1,250 places
Local authority
Suffolk
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
17.7%
First language not English
17.9%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Unity Schools Partnership

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 148 families put the school first and 186 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 200 (Places 209)200September 2023: 171 (Places 198)171September 2024: 179 (Places 192)179September 2025: 146 (Places 159)146September 2026: 148 (Places 186)148Places 186
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261861480.8100%
September 2025Sept 20251591460.9100%
September 2024Sept 20241921790.9100%
September 2023Sept 20231981710.9100%
September 2022Sept 20222092001100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.8, and 42.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Suffolk it was 42.8, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D (21.1 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 41.7 (England 46.3)41.72017/18: 45.4 (England 46.5)45.42018/19: 43.7 (England 46.7)43.72021/22: 49.2 (England 48.8)49.22022/23: 44.6 (England 46.3)44.62023/24: 43.2 (England 45.9)43.22024/25: 43.8 (England 46.0)43.8England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼43.846.0
▼42.1%45.4%
▼60.5%64.8%
▼20.5%40.5%
▼3.764.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form24.1−6.8
Sixth form college15.4−10.5
Further education40.4+8.6
Other education1.3+0.4
Apprenticeship5.3+2.6
Employment4.8+3.9
Not in a lasting destination6.6+3
Activity not captured2.2−1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 30.8 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 28.3 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 30.4 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.9 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 32.3 (England 37.9)C+2022/23: 27.2 (England 34.2)C-2023/24: 18.6 (England 34.4)D2024/25: 21.1 (England 35.0)DEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
49 studentsD (21.1)Well below average -0.61
49 studentsD (21.1)Below average -0.61
27 studentsMerit (26.1)Above average +0.56
3%AAB or better
97.1%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2459D (18.6)-0.83
2022/2361C- (27.2)—
2021/2251C+ (32.3)—
2018/1952C+ (31.9)+0.04
2017/1883C (30.4)-0.22
2016/17100C- (28.3)-0.33
2015/16115C (30.8)+0.03

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University40.3−16.8
Apprenticeship9−0.5
Employment35.8+12
Not in a lasting destination6−0.3
Activity not captured9+7.4

Ofsted

Samuel Ward Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 1 November 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
1 Nov 2022
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2019

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Mar 2019Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Oct 2012Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Sept 2008Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

75% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (131 replies, to 4 September 2023).

Recommend
75%
Replies
131
11% · 4 Sept 2023
Child is happy at school▼77% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe●88% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼80% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼74% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▼75% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼59% agreeEngland 82%
Told how child is doing▼78% agreeEngland 84%
Good range of subjects●90% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities●91% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼67% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly●75% agreeEngland 76%

based on the 79% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly●48% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 44% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲78% agreeEngland 67%

based on 35 parents (27%) with SEND

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