Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #12 in Suffolk public Top 21% UK

Thomas Gainsborough School

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

personMrs Helen Yapp

corporate_fareUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

location_onSudbury, CO10 0NH

language Visit Website phone 1787375232

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,576

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#13 in Suffolk

#1,530 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Thomas Gainsborough School is a Academy converter secondary school in Sudbury, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

article

School Summary

Thomas Gainsborough School is an academy converter in Sudbury, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of UNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP. The school has approximately 1,615 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.1, placing the school #13 in Suffolk and #1,530 of 3,216 nationally. 45.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 29 A-level subjects. 55.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 25.7% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.11 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.9:1. There are 2 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 3.1 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

46.1

Grade 5+ E&M

45.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.2%

Entering EBacc54.70%

EBacc APS4.17

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25.40%

EBacc APS4.2

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS4.37

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS4.15

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS4.18

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS4.12

explore

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)93%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

workspace_premium

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

+0.11

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.9%

Achieving A*–A25.7%

Achieving A*–B55.6%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate95.7%

A-level subjects offered29

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.04

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate93.80%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate96.90%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate96.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 November 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

13 September 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 September 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

01 January 2015

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-19

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

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2017-09-19

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-07-16

None Legacy

Requires improvement

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

2.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(27 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 1,615 pupils. During this period, there were 43 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.7%, 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)	1,615	43	2.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,617	56	3.5%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,578	47	3.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,584	60	3.8%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,587	65	4.1%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,565	44	2.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,576	54	3.4%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,580	22	1.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,576	16	1.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,582	30	1.9%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,589	29	1.8%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,569	21	1.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,574	7	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,574	23	1.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,559	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,559	10	0.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,553	34	2.2%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,510	23	1.5%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,513	24	1.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,520	33	2.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,484	22	1.5%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,484	24	1.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,506	34	2.3%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,393	29	2.1%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,397	17	1.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,403	20	1.4%	3.1%	0

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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 90 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 84 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 51 pupils

Physical Disability 24 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 8 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

91.0%Positive

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

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree46%

agree47%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree37%

agree47%

disagree11%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree33%

agree24%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

not applicable26%

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

yes38%

no62%

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

strongly agree36%

agree39%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree57%

agree34%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree41%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree38%

agree48%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree57%

agree40%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree57%

agree39%

disagree3%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree40%

agree41%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes89%

no11%

Top Secondary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Debenham High School

Good

location_on Stowmarket, IP14 6BL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Hartismere School

Outstanding

location_on Eye, IP23 7BL

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bury St Edmunds County High School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Benedict's Catholic School

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6RH

emoji_events #4 in LA

Northgate High School

Good

location_on Ipswich, IP4 3DL

emoji_events #5 in LA

Sybil Andrews Academy

Good

location_on Bury St. Edmunds, IP32 7QB

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Suffolk 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 Suffolk

Debenham High School

Hartismere School

Bury St Edmunds County High School

St Benedict's Catholic School

Northgate High School

Sybil Andrews Academy