Woodbridge School

Since 2019, Mrs Shona Norman BA, MA, PGCE. Her decision to teach came after a fascinating placement in an inner London school while still an undergraduate – ‘I loved the energy of the pupils and feeling that what I said really mattered’ – and she

Roughly half the year 7 cohort transfer directly from Woodbridge Prep. Other pupils entering the school in year 7 come from a large mix of nearby prep and primary schools (up to 25 different ones). Taster days are held with testing in maths and

A handful leave after GCSE, usually for local sixth form colleges, but great majority stay on. ‘It’s too short a time to get to know and be known by another school before decisions about the future,’ say sixth formers themselves. Great majority leave

In 2025, 60 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 52 per cent A*/A at A level (73 per cent A*–B).

The solid academic achievement by the great majority is a testament to the high standard of teaching and a focus on individual profiling rather than stringent selection. Pupils are banded and put in sets for STEM subjects and languages. Working with

The head of learning support is young, dynamic and enthusiastic about the ‘extraordinary difference the right help at the right time can give pupils’. He has four full-time learning support assistants delivering a varied programme of support to

Pupils are immersed in musical opportunities from the moment they start at the school. Music is taught throughout and around half the school have individual instrument lessons. The Tuckwell Room and Britten-Pears suite pay tribute to the famous local

Excellent provision of pitches, floodlit Astro and courts on site for all the team sports. The Dome, recently spruced up, houses two full-size indoor pitches and provides for several classes to be taught at the same time. It is also a space that can

Provision is mainly for international students and relatively small numbers – currently 42 pupils (maximum capacity is 58). An inevitable reduction in numbers following Covid, but the provision of a four-night package has encouraged a few locals to

Kindness is encouraged throughout the school and parents all praise the atmosphere of ‘happiness and acceptance of each other’. ‘The balance is struck between the community/family feeling and encouraging individual strengths and resilience.’

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Parents speak of pupils being ‘cheerful, hardworking and nice, just what we were looking for’ and ‘great for all-rounders who want to try all sorts of stuff’. Many pupils are from professional East Anglian families rather than old money, and often

Academic, music, sport, chess, drama and art scholarships (up to a maximum of 20 per cent remission of fees) are awarded for excellence. In addition, a single award, at the head’s discretion, is made in exceptional circumstances. Academic awards are

In an idyllic country town setting, the school has a record of high academic success that will suit a range of abilities. Particularly good at motivating pupils to be curious, try new things and do their best. With a strong sense of community, this