School profile

Thomas Clarkson Academy

Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Wisbech, PE13 2SE

Good

Map showing Thomas Clarkson Academy

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,870 of 3,312

Worse than 86% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#2,091 of 2,536

Worse than 82% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Thomas Clarkson Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 21 Jan 2020

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

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,295
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Matthew Dobbing
TrustTHE BROOKE WESTON TRUST
Local authorityCambridgeshire
Opened01 Jun 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137867.

GCSE results

2025/26

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

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.38.3, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire48.946.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.49.6%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire68.2%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.31.9%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire50.7%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.10.1%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire18.3%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths40.3%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire63.8%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4238--

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 schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.27.45, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire37.3935
Average A-level gradeC---
Average points, best three A-levels30.88, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire37.9935.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC--
AAB or better21.1%, better than England, similar to Cambridgeshire22.9%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.46, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study53--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist+--

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 pupils1,295
Girls673
Boys622
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.42.4%
First language not English32.4%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,833
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.29.4%
Sixth form places2024/25300
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.198
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.80
Average class size20.2

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
59%
Other White
30.9%
African
2.5%
Gypsy/Roma
1.4%
Other mixed
1.2%
White and Black African
0.8%
Indian
0.5%
Other Asian
0.5%
Other Black
0.5%
White and Black Caribbean
0.3%

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 teacher15.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)85.44
Teaching assistants (FTE)24.66
Support staff (FTE)54.51
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25100
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2583.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/256.2
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/2510.6

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.223
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.324
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.239
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.212
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)14

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 schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Overall absence9%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.28.5%, worse than England, worse than Cambridgeshire19.3%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.2%, similar to England, better than Cambridgeshire4%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 rate18.9%
Pupils with one or more suspensions8.5%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

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.87.9%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.82.3%
Further education64.9%
School sixth form17.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.8.7%
Employment3%
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.87.2%
Higher education57.4%
Employment21.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.6%
Further education4.3%
Apprenticeship4.3%

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 Thomas Clarkson Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miSecondaryThe Wisbech AcademyFree schools
Unrated
0.3 miPrimaryElm Road Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimaryRamnoth Junior SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.5 miPrimaryThe Nene Infant & Nursery SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.9 miNot applicableWisbech Grammar SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
1.1 miPrimarySt Peter's CofE Aided Junior SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.1 miPrimaryClarkson Infants SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.2 miPrimaryPeckover Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.3 miPrimaryElm CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.6 miPrimaryOrchards Church of England AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about Thomas Clarkson Academy

What is Thomas Clarkson Academy's Ofsted rating?

Thomas Clarkson Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 21 Jan 2020.

How does Thomas Clarkson Academy rank in England?

Thomas Clarkson Academy ranks 2,870 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 86% of schools) and 2,091 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 82% of schools).

What are Thomas Clarkson Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 31.9% of pupils at Thomas Clarkson Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 38.3 (England 46.2).

What are Thomas Clarkson Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Thomas Clarkson Academy was C-, and 21.1% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Thomas Clarkson Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Thomas Clarkson Academy made 223 offers from 324 applications (1.5 per offer), and 212 of 239 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Thomas Clarkson Academy?

Thomas Clarkson Academy has 1,295 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Thomas Clarkson Academy?

Thomas Clarkson Academy had 1,833 school places in 2024/25.

Does Thomas Clarkson Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, Thomas Clarkson Academy has a sixth form with 300 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Thomas Clarkson Academy?

At Thomas Clarkson Academy, the average class had 20.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Thomas Clarkson Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Thomas Clarkson Academy missed 9% of sessions (England 8%), and 28.5% 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.