Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #3 in Cumberland public Top 22% UK

The Nelson Thomlinson School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Sam Northwood

location_onWigton, CA7 9PX

language Visit Website phone 1697342160

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,219

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.2

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Cumberland

#1,512 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Nelson Thomlinson School is a Voluntary controlled school secondary school in Wigton, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Nelson Thomlinson School is a voluntary controlled school in Wigton, Cumberland, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,160 pupils on roll, of whom 14% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.2, placing the school #3 in Cumberland and #1,512 of 3,216 nationally. 46.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 41.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 18.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.19 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

46.2

Grade 5+ E&M

46.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.9%

Entering EBacc20.10%

EBacc APS4.04

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23.70%

EBacc APS4.18

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS4.17

2022

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.47

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.72

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS4.68

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships18%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships12%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships12%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships12%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.19

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.4%

Achieving A*–A18.8%

Achieving A*–B41.9%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate89.7%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

105

Retention rate90.50%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

112

Retention rate95.50%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

103

Retention rate92.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 October 2023

Inspection Report

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16 May 2013

Inspection Report

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30 June 2010

Inspection Report

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11 February 2009

Inspection Report

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14 November 2006

Inspection Report

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05 February 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-10-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-05-16

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-11-14

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

4.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.1%(48 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,160 pupils. During this period, there were 55 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,160	55	4.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,157	42	3.6%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,189	53	4.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,192	60	5.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,189	48	4.0%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,219	48	3.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,219	50	4.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,227	47	3.8%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,252	51	4.1%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,250	50	4.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,264	55	4.4%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,263	24	1.9%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,263	5	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,266	33	2.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,241	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,241	15	1.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,247	17	1.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,243	11	0.9%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,249	23	1.8%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,253	32	2.6%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,239	34	2.7%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,249	23	1.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,253	35	2.8%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,248	30	2.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,250	21	1.7%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,251	26	2.1%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 117 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 23 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

38.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

61.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree15%

agree46%

disagree38%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree8%

agree8%

disagree46%

strongly disagree31%

don't know8%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree8%

agree8%

disagree31%

strongly disagree38%

don't know8%

not applicable8%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree23%

agree31%

disagree31%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree8%

agree31%

disagree23%

strongly disagree31%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree15%

agree31%

disagree46%

strongly disagree8%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree23%

agree69%

disagree8%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree46%

disagree8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree15%

agree15%

disagree31%

strongly disagree38%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes31%

no69%

Top Secondary Schools in Cumberland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Keswick School

Outstanding

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Cockermouth School

Good

location_on Cockermouth, CA13 9HF

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William Howard School

Good

location_on Brampton, CA8 1AR

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Caldew School

Good

location_on Carlisle, CA5 7NN

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Millom School

Good

location_on Millom, LA18 5AB

emoji_events #6 in LA

Richard Rose Morton Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Carlisle, CA2 6LB

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Cumberland arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Cumberland

Keswick School

Cockermouth School

William Howard School

Caldew School

Millom School

Richard Rose Morton Academy