Secondary school

Thurston Community College

  • Community School
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Suffolk
  • IP31 3PB
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,401 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 43%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 57%57%2016/17: top 61%2017/18: top 50%2018/19: top 46%2021/22: top 52%2022/23: top 50%2023/24: top 57%2024/25: top 43%No exams

A-level results

#167 of 273 East of England sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against East of England

Attainment 846.9 · East of England 45.96/10 Middle+10.9 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths50.6% · East of England 44.9%7/10 Above+22 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.11 · East of England 4.016/10 Middle+24.4 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.16 · East of England −0.024/10 Below−15.7 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry32.37 · East of England 33.165/10 Middle−26 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 49.2 · 324 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 44.3 · 263 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 46 · 316 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 46.8 · 308 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 48 · 254 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 45.8 · 269 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 44.4 · 265 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 46.9 · 265 pupils · East of England 45.8549.244.3No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 36% · 263 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 39% · 316 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 37% · 308 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 48% · 254 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 43% · 269 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 41.5% · 265 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 50.6% · 265 pupils · East of England 44.9%50.6%36%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 32.65 · 152 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 32.3 · 118 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 32.32 · 147 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 30.87 · 140 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 38.52 · 115 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 31.15 · 124 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 35.9 · 69 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 32.37 · 77 pupils · East of England 33.1638.5230.87No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
271 of 271 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st271271
2nd1084
3rd231

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Good
  2. 2010Outstanding
  3. 2013Good
  4. 2018Good
  5. 2024Remains Good

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • 16 to 19 study programmes
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,512
Free school meals (past 6 years)17.9%
First language not English1.9%
SEN support12.1%
EHC plan2.6%
Absence (sessions missed)7.8%
Persistently absent pupils24.0%

Girls 50.7%Boys 49.3%

84% full · 1,800 places · 138 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 287 responses (19.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school66.2% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school66.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved50.5% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 58.2% not applicable33.3% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year48.4% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 16.4% not applicable53.8% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed49.3% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child65.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school67.2% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing69.3% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school76% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school87.1% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development59.2% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent58.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.1
Pupils per adult13.1
  • Classroom teachers 78.6
  • Leadership 9.8
  • Teaching assistants 17.1
  • Other support 43.1

Teachers 88.4 FTE · Whole workforce 148.6 · 190 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£7,315
Spend per pupil£7,872
Staff spend per pupil£6,277
Reserve per pupil−£318
  • −£480,514revenue reserve
  • −£841,724in-year balance

Grants £6,897 · self-generated £427 · premises £393 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

265 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained97.7%
  • Education92.1%
  • Apprenticeship3.8%
  • Employment1.9%
  • Not sustained1.5%
  • Unknown0.8%

After sixth form (16–18)

83 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained86.7%
  • Education51.8%
  • Higher education48.2%
  • Apprenticeship7.2%
  • Employment27.7%
  • Not sustained4.8%
  • Unknown8.4%