Suffolk has produced a slew of famous faces, with music legends, soap operas and famous comedians all educated in the county.
Did you know these famous faces were educated at these schools across Suffolk?
Ipswich School – Alex Albon
Williams Formula One driver Alex Albon grew up in Bures on the Suffolk-Essex border but was educated at Ipswich School.
The 26-year-old signed for Red Bull’s junior team in 2008 aged 12 and made his F1 debut for Toro Rosso in 2019.
Northgate High School – Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw went to Northgate Grammar School in Ipswich, now known as Northgate High (Image: Newsquest)
Nik Kershaw was born in Bristol but moved to Ipswich as a young boy. He attended Northgate Grammar School – now known as Northgate High.
It was at school that the 1980s pop star first started playing the guitar.
St. John’s Church of England School – June Brown
The late June Brown, best known for playing the iconic character Dot Cotton on the ` soap EastEnders, was born in Needham Market in 1927.
She was educated at St John’s Church of England School, Ipswich before receiving a scholarship to Ipswich High School.
St Joseph’s College – Brian Eno and Richard Ayoade
Brian Eno and Richard Ayoade both attended St Joseph’s College (Image: Archant/PA)
St. Joseph’s College had many notable students in its day, including legendary music pioneer Brian Eno and comedian Richard Ayoade.
Eno was born in Melton in 1974 and attended school in 1959 before later enrolling at the Ipswich School of Art.
In an interview with the Guardian while attending school, Ayoade recalled being obsessed with JD Sallinger’s book The Catcher in the Rye.
Culford School – John Motson
Commentator John Motson, an icon of British football, was educated at Culford School outside Bury St Edmunds.
Born in 1945, Motson would have attended school in the 1950s before beginning his broadcasting career.
Thomas Mills High School – Ed Sheeran, Naomi Watts, Jesse Quin
Ed Sheeran, Naomi Watts and Jesse Quin went to Thomas Mills High School (Image: PA/Sarah Lucy Brown)
It is well known that Ed Sheeran attended Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, but the school is also home to many notable alumni.
Hollywood star Naomi Watts attended the school from the late 1970s and Keane bassist Jesse Quin was also trained with Thomas Mills.
Framlingham College – Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson made his name with Busted in the 2000s before finding further success with other bands and as a solo artist.
But it all started in Suffolk for the rock star, who grew up in Woodbridge and attended Framlingham College’s Brandeston Hall prep school as a youngster.
East Point Academy—Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Anthony Ogogo
Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins from The Darkness and Anthony Ogogo (Image: Ian Burt/Denise Bradley)
When the duo The Darkness went to East Point Academy, it was known as Kirkley High School.
The brothers later returned to the school to open their new grand piano in 2004.
Olympic Games bronze medalist Anthony Ogogo was born in Lowestoft and is another famous face to drop out of school.
Stowmarket High School – Becky Jago
ITV news presenter Becky Jago is a very familiar face to those who watch 6pm TV.
What you may not know is that she was a student at Stowmarket High School before starting her career.
Westbourne Academy – Kieron Dyer
Kieron Dyer went to school in Ipswich (Image: Newsquest)
Kieron Dyer was born in Ipswich, educated in Ipswich and played for Ipswich.
The former Premier League midfielder and England international is a local hero and attended Westbourne Academy in his youth.
Old Buckenham Hall School – Harry Judd
McFly drummer Harry Judd was born in Chelmsford in 1985 but went to school at Old Buckenham Hall School in Brettenham.
In 2011, Judd appeared on Strictly Coming Dancing and won the Glitterball Trophy at the end of the series.
Stoke College—Matt Cardle
Matt Cardle rose to fame after winning The X Factor series in 2010.
The singer attended Stoke College in Stoke-By-Clare as a youngster before studying music in Colchester.
West Suffolk College – Nick Pope
Nick Pope went to West Suffolk College (Image: PA)
Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope was born in Soham in Cambridgeshire but went to West Suffolk College at Bury St Edmunds as a teenager in the 2000s.
Pope was selected as part of England’s World Cup squad for the 2022 tournament in Qatar and is a well-established Premier League veteran after his six-year tenure at Burnley.
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