Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Dudley public Top 38% UK

Thorns Collegiate Academy

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

personMs Nicola Jones

corporate_fareSHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBrierley Hill, DY5 2NU

language Visit Website phone 1384987973

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

916

trending_up

Attainment 8

38.7

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GCSE Rank

#17 in Dudley

#2,709 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Thorns Collegiate Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Brierley Hill, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Thorns Collegiate Academy is an academy sponsor led in Brierley Hill, Dudley, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of SHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 895 pupils on roll, of whom 35% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.7, placing the school #17 in Dudley and #2,709 of 3,216 nationally. 33.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 8.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 6 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 7.8 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

38.7

Grade 5+ E&M

33.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)8.3%

Entering EBacc65.40%

EBacc APS3.42

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41.00%

EBacc APS2.95

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc49%

EBacc APS3.26

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS3.18

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.42

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS3.2

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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)81%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 March 2024

Inspection Report

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13 June 2023

Inspection Report

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23 November 2022

Inspection Report

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08 February 2022

Inspection Report

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19 November 2020

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-03-12

Schools into Special Measures Visit 3 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-02-08

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Inadequate

2016-05-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2014-02-27

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

6.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.1%(37 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

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 895 pupils. During this period, there were 56 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.3%, 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)	895	56	6.3%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	902	84	9.3%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	935	32	3.4%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	947	50	5.3%	7.1%	5
2023/24 (Autumn term)	931	40	4.3%	8.2%	4
2022/23 (Summer term)	906	19	2.1%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	916	21	2.3%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	922	25	2.7%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	878	12	1.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	878	13	1.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	864	0	0.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	863	21	2.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	867	12	1.4%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	881	35	4.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	878	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	878	22	2.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	890	37	4.2%	4.2%	5
2018/19 (Summer term)	863	48	5.6%	3.1%	3
2018/19 (Spring term)	869	78	9.0%	3.8%	3
2018/19 (Autumn term)	865	34	3.9%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	873	16	1.8%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	870	17	2.0%	3.0%	3
2017/18 (Autumn term)	878	28	3.2%	3.7%	2

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

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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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 53 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 41 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 20 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 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.

64.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

66.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree9%

agree36%

disagree25%

strongly disagree24%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree14%

agree43%

disagree24%

strongly disagree13%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree23%

agree27%

disagree17%

strongly disagree20%

don't know2%

not applicable10%

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

yes26%

no74%

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

strongly agree32%

agree35%

disagree16%

strongly disagree14%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree20%

agree54%

disagree17%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree17%

agree48%

disagree24%

strongly disagree10%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree23%

agree48%

disagree21%

strongly disagree8%

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

strongly agree17%

agree59%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree26%

agree57%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree15%

agree43%

disagree22%

strongly disagree12%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes53%

no47%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

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.

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

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Old Swinford Hospital

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