The school is on the outskirts of Ipswich, just off the A14 and close to the A12 southbound.

It shared a joint sixth form with Thurleston High School until July 2010, when their sixth form closed.

On 1 June, Claydon High School converted to an academy when it joined the South Suffolk Learning Trust.

Following the end of 2016/2017 academic year, headmistress Sarah Skinner announced that she would take the position of Chief Executive at the newly formed South Suffolk Learning Trust from September–March as a secondment while remaining as 'Executive Headteacher' during this time.

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.