Secondary school

Thomas Gainsborough School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Suffolk
  • CO10 0NH
  • Sixth form
Ofsted areas (no overall grade) · inspected Nov 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,551 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 48%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 37%37%2016/17: top 49%2017/18: top 42%2018/19: top 42%2021/22: top 46%2022/23: top 29%29% · 2022/232023/24: top 37%2024/25: top 48%No exams

A-level results

#104 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 EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 846.1 · East of England 45.96/10 Middle
Grade 5+ English and maths45.7% · East of England 44.9%6/10 Middle−5 pts
EBacc point score4.17 · East of England 4.017/10 Above+12.7 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.21 · East of England −0.027/10 Above
A level points per entry36.08 · East of England 33.168/10 Above+6 pts
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 52.1 · 221 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 46.2 · 197 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 47.4 · 226 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 47.7 · 223 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 49.1 · 264 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 50.3 · 272 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 48.4 · 268 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 46.1 · 254 pupils · East of England 45.8552.146.1No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 40% · 197 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 47% · 226 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 48% · 223 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 52% · 264 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 55% · 272 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 51.5% · 268 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 45.7% · 254 pupils · East of England 44.9%55%40%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 30 · 52 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 29 · 56 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 26.38 · 93 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 29.05 · 81 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 37.53 · 89 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 35.35 · 84 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 33.98 · 81 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 36.08 · 116 pupils · East of England 33.1637.5326.38No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
260 of 260 who put it first2014 · 97.4%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st260260
2nd1047
3rd241

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Quality of educationGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Sixth form provisionOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2007Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2009Goodas predecessor
  3. 2013Requires improvementas predecessor
  4. 2017Good
  5. 2023Remains Good
  6. 2024Lowest Good

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,603
Free school meals (past 6 years)20.1%
First language not English4.1%
SEN support13.9%
EHC plan3.0%
Absence (sessions missed)8.3%
Persistently absent pupils21.5%

Girls 49.7%Boys 50.3%

114.5% full · 1,400 places · 241 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 180 responses (11.2% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school87.2% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school89.4% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved90.6% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 71.7% not applicable51% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year80.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 24.4% not applicable74.3% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?42.2% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 42.2% who said Yes above73.7% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child91.1% agree
  • My child does well at this school85.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing82.8% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school96.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.6% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development80% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent85.6% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.8
Pupils per adult13.8
  • Classroom teachers 73.1
  • Leadership 7.9
  • Teaching assistants 26.7
  • Other support 37.2

Teachers 81 FTE · Whole workforce 144.8 · 176 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,370
Spend per pupil£6,708
Staff spend per pupil£5,233
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£1,069,000in-year balance

Grants £6,866 · self-generated £503 · premises £426 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: UNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP (39 academies) · trust reserve £4,973,000 · 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

268 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained94%
  • Education87.7%
  • Apprenticeship4.9%
  • Employment1.5%
  • Not sustained3.7%
  • Unknown2.2%

After sixth form (16–18)

88 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained88.6%
  • Education48.9%
  • Higher education48.9%
  • Apprenticeship12.5%
  • Employment27.3%
  • Not sustained8%
  • Unknown3.4%