Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #11 in Suffolk public Top 20% UK

Thurston Community College

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

personMs Ma ve Taylor

location_onBury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB

language Visit Website phone 1359230885

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

1,570

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.9

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GCSE Rank

#10 in Suffolk

#1,381 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Thurston Community College is a Community school secondary school in Bury St Edmunds, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Thurston Community College is a community school in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,484 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.9, placing the school #10 in Suffolk and #1,381 of 3,216 nationally. 50.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 20.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 43.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 16.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.19 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 11.9 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

46.9

Grade 5+ E&M

50.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)20.0%

Entering EBacc23.40%

EBacc APS4.11

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28.70%

EBacc APS3.85

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.75

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS3.85

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS3.96

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.92

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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

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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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.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.1%

Achieving A*–A16.8%

Achieving A*–B43.9%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate97.4%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.16

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate89.20%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

117

Retention rate96.60%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

111

Retention rate95.5%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 March 2024

Inspection Report

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22 March 2018

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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01 March 2011

Inspection Report

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10 February 2010

Inspection Report

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27 November 2006

Inspection Report

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04 March 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2018-03-22

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-05-01

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

13.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.5%(82 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,484 pupils. During this period, there were 198 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 13.3%, which is above 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)	1,484	198	13.3%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,473	153	10.4%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,498	148	9.9%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,499	182	12.1%	7.1%	5
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,494	198	13.3%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,554	100	6.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,570	102	6.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,578	130	8.2%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,571	103	6.6%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,578	54	3.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,575	28	1.8%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,650	52	3.2%	3.6%	3
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,651	21	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,624	68	4.2%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,646	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,646	22	1.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,652	53	3.2%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,673	52	3.1%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,674	72	4.3%	3.8%	3
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,681	80	4.8%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,737	37	2.1%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,733	51	2.9%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,742	73	4.2%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,751	50	2.9%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,754	38	2.2%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,761	21	1.2%	3.1%	2

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 63 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 47 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 38 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 27 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory 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.

66.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree10%

agree41%

disagree26%

strongly disagree17%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree7%

agree42%

disagree33%

strongly disagree14%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree20%

agree26%

disagree18%

strongly disagree19%

don't know1%

not applicable16%

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

yes23%

no77%

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

strongly agree22%

agree27%

disagree18%

strongly disagree30%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree24%

agree42%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree23%

agree44%

disagree18%

strongly disagree10%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree17%

agree52%

disagree21%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree26%

agree51%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree32%

agree55%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree17%

agree42%

disagree18%

strongly disagree13%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes59%

no41%

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Debenham High School

Good

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Outstanding

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Bury St Edmunds County High School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RF

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St Benedict's Catholic School

Good

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Northgate High School

Good

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Sybil Andrews Academy

Good

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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 Suffolk

Debenham High School

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy