School profile

The Thetford Academy

Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Thetford, IP24 1LH

Good

Map showing The Thetford Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,851 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,010 of 2,536

Better than 60% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Thetford Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 4 Mar 2020

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages11 to 19
Pupils1,398
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMiss Ina Coubrough
TrustINSPIRATION TRUST
Local authorityNorfolk
Opened01 Sept 2010
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 136204.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.44.9, similar to England, similar to Norfolk44.546.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.62.4%, similar to England, similar to Norfolk63.4%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.46.6%, similar to England, better than Norfolk43%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.10.6%, worse than England, similar to Norfolk10%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths56.6%, worse than England, similar to Norfolk58%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4189--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.35.3, similar to England, similar to Norfolk33.6535
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels39.3, better than England, better than Norfolk34.3235.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB--
AAB or better31.6%, better than England, better than Norfolk14.8%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.07, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study58--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,398
Girls691
Boys707
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.29.8%
First language not English32.6%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,778
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.21.4%
Sixth form places2024/25328
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.83
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.73
Average class size23.8

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
63.2%
Other White
26.2%
White and Black African
2%
Other mixed
1.8%
African
1.3%
White and Asian
1.2%
White and Black Caribbean
1.1%
Other ethnic group
0.9%
Bangladeshi
0.4%
Other Asian
0.4%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.4
Teachers (FTE)83.8
Teaching assistants (FTE)26.79
Support staff (FTE)61.81
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2585.3
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2572.6
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/256
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/256.7

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.232
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.255
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.218
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.218
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)5

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Overall absence9.2%, worse than England, worse than Norfolk8.7%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.26.7%, worse than England, worse than Norfolk22.6%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.2%, worse than England, worse than Norfolk4.4%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate44.5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions8.2%
Permanent exclusion rate0.5%
Permanent exclusions7

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.85.8%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.78.9%
Further education51.6%
School sixth form27.4%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.5%
Employment4.2%
Apprenticeship2.6%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.88.2%
Higher education60.3%
Employment22.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.3%
Apprenticeship5.9%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Thetford Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimaryDrake Primary SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.4 miPrimaryRaleigh Infant AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.4 miPrimaryAdmirals AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.8 miPrimaryNorwich Road AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.2 miPrimaryThe Bishop's Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
1.4 miPrimaryRedcastle Family SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.5 miPrimaryQueensway Junior AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
1.6 miPrimaryQueensway Infant AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Thetford Academy

What is The Thetford Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Thetford Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 4 Mar 2020.

How does The Thetford Academy rank in England?

The Thetford Academy ranks 1,851 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,010 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 60% of schools).

What are The Thetford Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 46.6% of pupils at The Thetford Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 44.9 (England 46.2).

What are The Thetford Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Thetford Academy was B-, and 31.6% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Thetford Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Thetford Academy made 232 offers from 255 applications (1.1 per offer), and 218 of 218 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Thetford Academy?

The Thetford Academy has 1,398 pupils aged 11 to 19.

What is the capacity of The Thetford Academy?

The Thetford Academy had 1,778 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Thetford Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, The Thetford Academy has a sixth form with 328 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Thetford Academy?

At The Thetford Academy, the average class had 23.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Thetford Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Thetford Academy missed 9.2% of sessions (England 8%), and 26.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.