Secondary school

The Thetford Academy

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–19
  • Mixed
  • Norfolk
  • IP24 1LH
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2020

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,224 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 68%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 83%83%2016/17: top 66%66% · 2016/172017/18: top 87%2018/19: top 79%2021/22: top 70%2022/23: top 70%2023/24: top 83%2024/25: top 68%No exams

A-level results

#120 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 842.4 · East of England 45.94/10 Below
Grade 5+ English and maths41.6% · East of England 44.9%5/10 Middle+9.4 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.86 · East of England 4.015/10 Middle
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.04 · East of England −0.026/10 Middle−16 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry35.3 · East of England 33.27/10 Above+39.1 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 44.6 · 182 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 43.2 · 181 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 38.2 · 181 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 40.5 · 181 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 44.4 · 198 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 42 · 207 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 38.9 · 190 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 42.4 · 238 pupils · East of England 45.8544.638.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 25% · 181 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 19% · 181 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 33% · 181 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 42% · 198 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 38% · 207 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 38.9% · 190 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 41.6% · 238 pupils · East of England 44.9%42%19%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 21.75 · 45 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 22.17 · 70 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 23.58 · 35 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 21.81 · 54 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 32.26 · 31 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 26.83 · 49 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 26.03 · 65 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 35.3 · 44 pupils · East of England 33.1635.321.75No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
218 of 218 who put it first2014 · 99.4%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st218218
2nd237
3rd80

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2025

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2008Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2009Satisfactoryas predecessor
  4. 2013Inadequate
  5. 2014Good
  6. 2018Remains Good
  7. 2020Good
  8. 2025Ungraded visit

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

1 weak areas

  • Sixth form provision

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,398
Free school meals (past 6 years)31.8%
First language not English31.3%
SEN support7.5%
EHC plan5.4%
Absence (sessions missed)9.8%
Persistently absent pupils25.7%

Girls 50.4%Boys 49.6%

68.2% full · 2,050 places · 92 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 165 responses (12.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school76.4% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school81.8% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved83% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 61.2% not applicable46.9% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year64.8% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 16.4% not applicable71.7% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?27.9% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 27.9% who said Yes above73.9% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child87.3% agree
  • My child does well at this school81.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing77% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school93.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school86.7% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development69.1% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent76.4% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher16.7
Pupils per adult10.4
  • Classroom teachers 73.2
  • Leadership 10.6
  • Teaching assistants 26.8
  • Other support 35

Teachers 83.8 FTE · Whole workforce 145.6 · 177 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,901
Spend per pupil£7,440
Staff spend per pupil£5,888
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£628,000in-year balance

Grants £7,708 · self-generated £193 · premises £321 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: INSPIRATION TRUST (18 academies) · trust reserve £4,349,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

190 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained85.8%
  • Education78.9%
  • Apprenticeship2.6%
  • Employment4.2%
  • Not sustained10.5%
  • Unknown3.7%

After sixth form (16–18)

68 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained88.2%
  • Education60.3%
  • Higher education60.3%
  • Apprenticeship5.9%
  • Employment22.1%
  • Not sustained10.3%
  • Unknown1.5%