Ofsted: Outstanding

Thriftwood School

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

personHead not listed

corporate_fareSEAX TRUST

location_onChelmsford, CM2 8RW

language Visit Website phone 1245266880

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

260

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Age Range

5-19

summarize

Thriftwood School is a Academy special converter school in Chelmsford, serving ages 5-19. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Thriftwood School is an academy special converter in Chelmsford, Essex, admitting pupils aged 5-19. It is part of SEAX TRUST. The school has approximately 266 pupils on roll, of whom 50% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 9.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.4 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

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2024

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading0% LA 74%

Writing0% LA 70%

Maths0% LA 72%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 59%England 60%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-11.6

Read

LA -0.1

-15.7 to -7.5

-10.7

Write

LA 0.0

-14.7 to -6.8

-11.6

Maths

LA -0.3

-15.4 to -7.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 64%England 65%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-8.4

Read

LA -0.5

-12.2 to -4.6

-7.3

Write

LA -0.2

-10.9 to -3.8

-10.1

Maths

LA -0.6

-13.4 to -6.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%

Reading0% LA 75%

Writing0% LA 77%

Maths0% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-8.9

Read

LA -0.3

-12.2 to -5.6

-6.3

Write

LA -0.2

-9.4 to -3.2

-7.3

Maths

LA -0.6

-10.3 to -4.3

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 July 2025

Inspection Report

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20 June 2023

Inspection Report

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12 September 2017

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-07-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-09-12

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-05-10

None Legacy

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

6.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.5%(12 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 266 pupils. During this period, there were 16 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.0%, 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)	266	16	6.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	266	18	6.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	248	6	2.4%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	251	11	4.4%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	251	16	6.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	261	23	8.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	260	12	4.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	263	9	3.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	257	9	3.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	257	6	2.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	258	9	3.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	255	11	4.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	253	6	2.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	254	5	2.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	233	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	233	7	3.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	233	7	3.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	227	1	0.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	227	7	3.1%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	226	6	2.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	220	1	0.5%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	220	0	0.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	218	2	0.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	223	1	0.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	222	2	0.9%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	221	2	0.9%	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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 233 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 33 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.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

34.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree51%

agree32%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree66%

agree29%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree51%

agree22%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

not applicable15%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree66%

agree24%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree44%

agree32%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree24%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree54%

agree27%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree61%

agree29%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree59%

agree27%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree51%

agree34%

disagree5%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Thriftwood School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover