Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #35 in Norfolk public Top 30% UK

The Thetford Academy

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

personDr Michael Fordham

corporate_fareINSPIRATION TRUST

location_onThetford, IP24 1LH

language Visit Website phone 1842754875

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2020

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Students

1,258

trending_up

Attainment 8

42.4

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GCSE Rank

#36 in Norfolk

#2,189 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Thetford Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Thetford, serving ages 11-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Thetford Academy is an academy sponsor led in Thetford, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of INSPIRATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,361 pupils on roll, of whom 32% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, placing the school #36 in Norfolk and #2,189 of 3,216 nationally. 41.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 11.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 45.1% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 26.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.07 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2020. 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 17.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 7 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 14.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

41.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)11.8%

Entering EBacc31.90%

EBacc APS3.86

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16.80%

EBacc APS3.4

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS3.76

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS3.99

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.62

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.15

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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

87%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

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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

+0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*9.8%

Achieving A*–A26.5%

Achieving A*–B45.1%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate88.2%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.52

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate97.70%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate91.70%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate86.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 April 2025

Inspection Report

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04 March 2020

Inspection Report

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28 November 2018

Inspection Report

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04 December 2014

Inspection Report

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01 July 2014

Inspection Report

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11 March 2014

Inspection Report

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15 October 2013

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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12 February 2013

Inspection Report

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23 January 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2020-03-04

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-11-28

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-12-04

Schools into Special Measures Visit 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2013-02-12

None EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

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

12.7%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.5%(61 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 1,361 pupils. During this period, there were 173 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 12.7%, 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)	1,361	173	12.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,362	222	16.3%	7.8%	7
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,289	149	11.6%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,305	128	9.8%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,304	123	9.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,250	117	9.4%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,258	164	13.0%	6.4%	4
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,260	92	7.3%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,153	126	10.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,161	72	6.2%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,172	95	8.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,133	64	5.6%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,130	16	1.4%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,135	61	5.4%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,121	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,121	63	5.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,128	106	9.4%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,120	47	4.2%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,147	51	4.4%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,159	140	12.1%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,124	32	2.8%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,137	17	1.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,149	24	2.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,143	16	1.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,146	12	1.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,156	11	1.0%	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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 68 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 37 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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The Thetford Academy

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)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Norfolk

Notre Dame High School, Norwich

Hethersett Academy

Wymondham College

Jane Austen College

Wymondham High Academy

Wayland Academy