Debenham High School - worth a move?

[ConfusedConnie]

Thinking of moving to have access to a v good non-selective school.

We could, in theory, move anywhere but East/South would give us better access to family.

Came across Debenham High. Does anyone have any experience if it? Is it as good as it looks on the stats? Is it worth moving for? And is living in the catchment area essential? It looks like such a small and rural catchment I can’t imagine it filling the school.

It has v good reputation locally. It is a bit in the middle of nowhere though. The school is small and has a lovely feel as a result of this. I have visited and observed some classes there and liked it. However, to be fair, there are also good secondary schools in Woodbridge and Bury St Edmunds too.

It’s our local, my children are adults now and at the time went a little further afield when there was still a three tier system in mid Suffolk (I felt middle school really advantaged them). It is a bit isolated, your children will need their own cars as soon as practicable

I did briefly look into King Eds and Bury County but Debenham is showing Exceltional GCSE results from 2017. 69% grade 5 or above for maths and English compared the other two only just above national average of 43%.

What’s the feel of it? It looks grammar-school-ish? Does it feel it?

We’re currently at private schools in Norwich but would rather not pay the money and the state schools don’t appear to be a patch on what Debenham appears to be.

KEGs is nice, feels a bit like a friendly independent school.

The whole of Suffolk is quite depressingly uniformly white, this often freaks people out. Like some alternative Aryan dystopia.

Well we’re in Norfolk so Suffolk is positively a metropolis!!

😂 I’m from Norfolk!

Unlike Norfolk Suffolk has no cities or motorways, but otherwise pretty similar - landscape is a bit prettier, more undulating!

Here’s a list of things I love about debenham (and surrounds):

So much wonderful hacking
Garage at Crowfield where they put the fuel in for you and it takes hours because everyone has to chat - reminds me of Cornwall
Friendly local hunt (never actually kills anything)
Topthorn arena and boundary farm cross country course within riding distance
Cheap plentiful grazing everywhere
Exceptionally courteous drivers
There’s an Indian takeaway in the gym (next to high school)
The co-op and the hardware store who until recently shared an entrance, between them you can buy anything
Floods quite often but never completely cut off, fun to ride or drive through
People are generally nice
Except the Gummers, but I love how universally despised they are 😳

When did Norfolk gain a motorway? You don't mean that duel carriageway near Sloley do you?

I thought the M11 was a bit in Norfolk but maybe not???

Well Norfolk definitely has a city and a fine one at that anyway 😀

Op it is not grammar school ish. It is a high performing small state secondary. It won't feel anything like a private school or a grammar school and whilst the kids there seemed fine it is a comprehensive school catering for all levels.