The school is located on the western edge of the town of Beccles and serves the surrounding area, including Worlingham.

[1] The school was established when locally-born merchant Sir John Leman left money in his will of 1631 which, after his death on 6 March 1632, provided for the education of 44 pupils from Beccles, two from Ringsfield and two from Gillingham.

In 1914 it became the County Mixed Grammar School on its present site in Ringsfield Road.

This site was occupied by the Beccles Free School in 2014 when it moved from Carlton Colville.

In the Ofsted inspection report dated February 2006, it was rated as a 'good' school with a 'good' sixth form.