Successes and Highlights
GCSE Results 2022
Claydon High School is delighted with the performance of students this year with the cohort
achieving very strongly across the board and impressive performances from many individuals.
As we all know, this cohort of students has experienced significant disruption over the past three
years and for them to sit exams was a great achievement but brought challenges too. We were
hugely proud of how every student approached the assessment and examination season and their hard work has really paid off. Our students have achieved success across a range of subjects and many have overcome individual challenges and should be immensely proud of their achievements.
Schools are not just about exam performance, but about developing a range of skills to take learners into the next stage of education or training; we can see that our young people have these skills and are well placed to achieve further success in the future.
We hope that all students will celebrate their successes with friends and family, who have been so crucial in creating the vital support network young people needed to get to this point in time. I am hugely grateful to all of our families for the strong working relationships we have enjoyed over the last five years and also want to thank all of the staff, both teaching and support staff, who have worked tirelessly to support each and every student.
We wish every student from the Class of 2022 every success for the future.
Ms M Taylor - Headteacher
Ofsted Inspection 2021
“Claydon High School continues to be a good school”
Following an inspection in September 2021, we’re proud to announce that we have once again been judged to be a good school.
The inspectors met staff, students, governors and trustees, observed lessons and checked policies, processes and paperwork.
The strengths of the school include a strong and effective safeguarding culture, high expectations for how students behave and a well-considered curriculum where teachers with strong subject knowledge teach content which allows students to develop a depth of knowledge and understanding. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about their children’s experience at the school. Parents typically comment that, “Every staff member proves again and again that they have the best interests of my child at heart.”
GCSE Results 2021
Year 11 Students at Claydon High School achieved excellent GCSE results
Headteacher, Maéve Taylor, said, “Congratulations to this year group who have worked hard to achieve excellent GCSE results. Despite the challenges the last two years have presented, these individuals have shown a mature and positive approach to their learning which has enabled them to achieve strongly across a range of subjects.
“We are incredibly proud of each student in this year group for their hard work, which has been supported by a wonderful group of parents and carers and wider family networks.
“Teachers and other staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that all students have been challenged and supported through this unprecedented period of education to achieve a set of grades which will allow them to progress and succeed in their future sixth form studies, college courses and apprenticeships. We wish them every success in the future.”
Ms M Taylor - Headteacher
August 2021
GCSE Results 2020
Claydon High School students celebrate another year of GCSE success
Students at Claydon High School are celebrating an excellent set of results with many impressive individual performances.
The Class of 2020 have had a really challenging few months, having missed the end of their school careers because of lockdown and all of the usual rites of passage which go with this. Furthermore, waiting for exam results is nervewracking at the best of times, but for this cohort this has been heightened by the media coverage of the difficulties and uncertainty over the preceding weeks and days.
This makes us doubly proud all of our students who worked hard for the duration of their GCSE courses to achieve excellent results. We are very pleased that the centre assessed grades, alongside some upgraded results from the national standardising algorithm, are being issued to students as they take into account the full range of their performance including practical components for music, drama, sport and design technology as well as mock exams and consideration of individual circumstances which may have affected them.
This year group has been an excellent cohort, demonstrating daily our motto of being the best they can be. They have acted as exemplary role models for younger students, leading the School Council, wellbeing groups and a Green Council as well as performing consistently strongly in sporting and musical events. Each and every one of these young people has contributed to the culture and community of the school and they will be missed.
We hope that we will be able to safely gather together the students and their parents/carers in the future to celebrate their successes and to say farewell. As a school we recognise how important it is to work closely with families to support our young people, academically and for their wider wellbeing, and we thank them too.
I would also like to pay tribute to the team of people at school, teachers, learning support assistants, and other administrative staff who have worked tirelessly to support students throughout their time with us.
On behalf of all of the staff and governors at Claydon High School, we congratulate the Class of 2020 upon their many successes, especially in these GCSEs, and thank them for all that they have contributed to the school and wish them every success in the future.
Ms M Taylor - Headteacher
August 2020
GCSE Results 2019
74% of the 123 students at Claydon High School achieved a grade 4 in both English and Maths. This impressive achievement from the class of 2019 equals last year’s excellent results. We are also proud of the number who achieved the EBacc qualification at the same pass rate. There are many students who have a set of GCSE results to be proud of and which will take them onto their choice of education or training in September.
Congratulations to all of our students upon their achievements; we ask each of them that they aim to achieve the best that they are capable of and they have certainly done this. We are especially impressed by students who overcame significant personal challenges during their GCSE studies. We will miss all of the students who contributed so much to the school community, including sporting talent, debating success and acting as role models in their student leadership roles.
There were successes in many areas across the school including pass rates in the following subjects: Spanish (85%), Biology (96%), Chemistry (98%), Physics (92%), Business Studies (85%), Drama (73%), PE (70%) and English Literature (75%). The Maths results were exceptional as they were last year, with 82% of students passing at a Grade 4 or above and lower down in the school Year 9 and Year 10 students also celebrated excellent results in Statistics and Further Maths; we look forward to those students developing their mathematical skills further as they study for their main GCSE.
The individual and group achievements reflect the combined efforts of students and their families, teachers and the wider school community, and my congratulations and thanks are extended to everyone who contributed.
Ms M Taylor - Headteacher
August 2019
School Games Gold Mark Award
We are delighted to announce that we have achieved the School Games Gold Mark Award for the 2018/19 academic year. The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust, to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success.
Competing in a huge array of local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our students for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible. As part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.
A special thanks to all the Claydon staff who have helped this year to set up and run a lunchtime or after-school extra-curricular club in order to provide our students with opportunities to improve their skills in many different activities. This last term has been extremely tough for all of the staff and students here at Claydon with the tragic loss of our inspirational PE teacher Matt Jack. He was truly an amazing teacher and colleague. He saw and wanted the best in all the students he taught in lessons and
in the countless number of extra-curricular clubs he ran. This School Games Gold Mark is dedicated to his hard work.
July 2019
2018 Another excellent year of GCSE results - well done to all our students!
Students of the Class of 2018 have been awarded an excellent set of GCSE results, rewarding their hard work over the last two years. Of the 148 students in Year 11, 73% achieved a Grade 4 or above in English and Maths; 54% of them achieved a Grade 5 or higher. Pass rates in both of these two subjects at the Grade 4 and above, needed for future employment, education or training, were over 80%.
Congratulations to all of our students, some of whom overcame some personal challenges to achieve some excellent GCSE grades. We ask students at Claydon High School to ‘be the best they can be’ in all aspects of their lives and these results reflect their commitment to achieving that and are a fitting recognition for a year group who also impressed us with sporting, musical, performance and debating skills over their five years with us.
There were successes in many areas across the school including pass rates at Grade 5 and above in the following subjects: Biology at 77%, Chemistry and Physics at 72.4%, Food Technology at 83%, Music at 67%, PE at 67% and Business Studies at 85%. Pass rates at the highest grades of A-A* or Grade 7 and above were achieved in the Sciences, History, Spanish, Business Studies, PE, Food Technology and Further Maths. Over 20% of all grades were awarded at this high standard.
A huge thank you to all the teaching and support staff who have worked alongside our young people to achieve these outcomes, our governors and the South Suffolk Learning Trust for supporting our work, and to the families and parents/carers who have been part of the journey.
As our students move onto further education or employment with training, we wish them all the very best of luck.
Ms Taylor – Headteacher
August 2018
School Games Gold Mark Award
We are delighted to announce that we have achieved the School Games Gold Mark Award for the 2017/18 academic year.
The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success.
Our sporting achievements this year include:
U13 Boys' and Girls' 3v3 Volleyball School Games Winners
U13 Boys' Athletics and Sports Hall Athletics County finalists
U17 Girls' 4v4 Volleyball County winners
U13 Girls' Netball league winners
Golf Super Sixes School Games winners
U16 Boys and Girls' Table Tennis 3rd place in the County
With a total of 250 young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible.
As part of our application, we were asked to fulfill criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.
July 2018
Claydon High School receives Platinum Award from Suffolk Young Carers
In July 2018, Claydon High School was presented with the Platinum Award for supporting our young carers in school. We are very proud of this achievement, having already received the Bronze Silver and Gold Awards!
We work very closely with Suffolk Young Carers and our young carers in school. We have raised school awareness of young carers through assemblies and teacher training days and we regularly hold activities, events and fundraisers.
July 2018
Claydon High School nationally recognised as transforming educational practice
Claydon High School has recently achieved accreditation for transforming practice in ‘Leadership through moral purpose’ under SSAT's Framework for Exceptional Education. The Framework for Exceptional Education is a tool incorporating SSAT's 30 years of experience in school improvement. Co-developed with a group of high-performing schools and reviewed by leading academics, the framework supports schools in quality-assuring their work and sharing effective practice.
To achieve accreditation as transforming in practice, Claydon High School was reviewed by two other high-performing schools and an independent moderator from SSAT. SSAT's Chief Executive, Sue Williamson commented, "for a school to be accredited for transforming practice is a real credit to their team and the quality of the work that they are doing."
Maéve Taylor, Headteacher of Claydon High School, said, “We are delighted with this recognition of the fantastic work being undertaken at the school by leaders at all levels, including our student leadership team. Our vision is that we should all aim to “be the best we can be” and this award acknowledges how our students are supported in this goal by a team of committed teachers and other staff as well as the wider community. I am immensely proud of everyone who has contributed to this success for the school.”
May 2018
Silver School Games Mark Award
We have been successful in our application for a Silver School Games Award. The School Games Mark (which is recognised by Ofsted) rewards schools for their commitment to and development of competition, school sport and physical education.
In order to achieve any level of the School Games Mark, we must meet a set of prerequisites including: providing opportunities that attract less active young people to participate in physical activity; a calendar of competition that demonstrates opportunities for young people with SEND to take part in competitions; a notice board and/or in-house school digital system that promotes School Games activity and much more.
July 2017
Claydon High School nationally recognised as transforming educational practice
Claydon High School has recently achieved accreditation for transforming practice under SSAT's Framework for Exceptional Education. The Framework for Exceptional Education is a self-review and planning tool incorporating SSAT's 30 years of experience in school improvement. Co-developed with a group of high-performing schools and reviewed by leading academics, the framework supports schools in quality-assuring their work and sharing effective practice.
To achieve accreditation as transforming in practice, Claydon High School was reviewed by another high-performing school and an independent moderator from SSAT. SSAT's Chief Executive, Sue Williamson comments "for a school to be accredited for transforming practice is a real credit to their team and the quality of the work that they are doing."
Sarah Skinner, Headteacher of Claydon High School, said “We are delighted to have our hard work recognised by other high performing schools. My thanks goes to a dedicated team of staff.”
May 2017
Claydon High School celebrates a five year high in GCSE results!
Students and staff have once again been rewarded for their hard work and commitment with another great set of results. Of the 148 pupils at Claydon High School, 71% of students achieved A*-C in both English and Maths.
Students in Chemistry, Physics and Further Maths recorded a fantastic 100% A*-C success rate with top results in other subjects including: Biology 97%, English Language 85%, Spanish 85%, Business Studies 82%, Drama 81%, R.E. 80%, P.E. 80%, Media 77% and Maths 75%.
We are determined that our students are given every opportunity to be the best that they can be and they have certainly excelled themselves this year. I am delighted with the individual results for students and offer my congratulations to our young people who should all be very proud of what they have achieved, in terms of both academic success and the contribution they have made to school life over the past five years.
I would also like to thank our teaching and support colleagues who always insist on delivering excellence, our governors for supporting us and to families who have gone out of their way to ensure that their sons and daughters have been well supported at home.
As our students move on to the next chapter in their lives, we wish them all the very best of luck.
Mrs Skinner -​ Headteacher
August 2016
Claydon High School shortlisted for a DfE Character Award 2016
Claydon High School was one of only four schools in the Eastern Region to be shortlisted for a DfE Character Award 2016. Our commitment to "providing an innovative approach to instilling positive character traits in students, ensuring that they are determined, confident and resilient; prepared for life in modern Britain" was judged to be 'highly commended'.
June 2016
Claydon High School wins award for exceptional 2015 results
Claydon High School has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2015 performance by the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT). Educational Outcomes data analysis from SSAT has shown that the school is in the top 20% nationally for progress made by students between their key stage 2 results at primary school and their key stage 4 results.
The school’s SSAT Educational Outcomes award will be presented at a regional celebration event held to draw attention to the work of high-achieving, improving and innovating schools and teachers.
Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said:
“It’s my great pleasure to commend Claydon High School on their excellent 2015 performance, and to have the opportunity to highlight and share their great work at the SSAT Educational Outcomes celebration evening. I have the privilege of visiting lots of schools and I am always impressed by the creativity of teachers in engaging and inspiring their students.
I hope that SSAT’s Educational Outcomes award will highlight the professionalism, commitment and hard work of leaders, teachers and students at Claydon High School. Recognising and sharing successes like this is at the heart of SSAT’s mission, so I am delighted to congratulate Claydon High School on their achievement.”
April 2016
Claydon High School is named in the top 100 schools in England
We are delighted to share the exciting news that Claydon High School has been named in the top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England for sustained improvement.
MP Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools sent a letter to the school offering personal congratulations to the students and staff on this excellent achievement, which recognises sustained improvement in students achieving five or more A*-C GCSE grades, including English and Mathematics between 2013 and 2015.
We are also celebrating news that the school has been invited to become a Leading Edge school. Leading Edge is a programme which invites Claydon High School to join other high performing schools across the country to work locally, regionally and nationally to raise achievement through the sharing of proven ideas. There are currently over 300 Leading Edge schools within the programme, representing some of the most outstanding and innovative practice nationally.
I am very pleased that the hard work and dedication of staff alongside the commitment and fantastic achievements of our students over this three year period has been recognised. We will continue to strive for improvement and to deliver outstanding teaching and learning for our young people and these two accolades will support us in that aim.
I would like to thank my committed team of staff, supportive parents/carers and of course, the fantastic students, both past and present.
Mrs Skinner - Headteacher
March 2016
Best Ever Results!
70% 5 A*- C including English and Maths
Congratulations Year 11 on a fantastic set of results which you richly deserve. I am delighted that your dedication to learning throughout the past five years has been rewarded collectively with our best ever result! As well as celebrating exam results, I would also like to pay tribute to the contribution you have made to school life in sport, music, drama, art and the many other areas of achievement and creativity in which you have excelled. I wish you all the very best with the next stage of your education and training and look forward to seeing you at our Presentation Evening in December.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for their fantastic support and the highlight the hard work and commitment of all the teachers, staff, governors and wider community that has contributed to our success this year and helped students on their journey.
Well done to you all.
Mrs Skinner - Headteacher
August 2015
Pupil Premium Award
We have just heard from David Laws, Schools Minister, that Claydon High School has been awarded a £5,000 award for our progress and achievement of our Pupil Premium students.
We are delighted to have received this award. Our staff always work hard for all the students at Claydon High School but the focus on supporting those who sometimes experience more difficulties in their lives means that we achieved great results across the board but particularly for those in receipt of the pupil premium funding.
The additional resources this funding will provide allows for bespoke staff training, clearly timed and targeted intervention strategies and support for students which goes beyond the traditional academic sphere. We have a lovely school community who support one another and our shared philosophy of "Be the best you can be" means that high expectations and aspirations permeate all that staff and students strive to achieve.
We will now look to extend our work further in supporting achievement for all students at the school and this award will support us in that aim. I would like to thank my committed team of staff, supportive parent/carers and of course, the fantastic students, past and present.
Mrs Skinner - Headteacher
February 2015
