GCSE 2025/26
#1,518 of 3,312
Similar to most schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
A-level 2024/25
#899 of 2,536
Better than 64% of schools in England
Ranked by average points per A-level entry.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 19 Nov 2024
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 141639.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 46.7, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 42.9 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 66.4%, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 60.7% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 43.7%, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 40% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 11.9%, worse than England, better than Suffolk | 9.5% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 61.7%, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 55.2% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 277 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10. | 36.08, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 31.88 | 35 |
| Average A-level grade | B- | - | - |
| Average points, best three A-levels | 38.21, better than England, better than Suffolk | 32.4 | 35.78 |
| Average grade, best three A-levels | B- | - | - |
| AAB or better | 13.8%, worse than England, better than Suffolk | 10.7% | 17.5% |
| A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average. | 0.11, similar to England | - | - |
| A-level progress | Average, similar to England | - | - |
| Students at the end of 16 to 18 study | 129 | - | - |
| Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs. | Dist- | - | - |
Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 1,603 |
| Girls | 828 |
| Boys | 775 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 18.7% |
| First language not English | 5% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 1,780 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 9.9% |
| Sixth form places2024/25 | 380 |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 209 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 75 |
| Average class size | 22.6 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 19.8 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 13.8 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 80.98 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 26.69 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 63.86 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 78.4 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 70.2 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 1 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 7.2 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
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.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 271 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 394 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 260 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 260 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 53 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 8.3%, similar to England, similar to Suffolk | 8.8% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 19.9%, similar to England, better than Suffolk | 23.3% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 4%, similar to England, similar to Suffolk | 4.4% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
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.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 9.5% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 3% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.2% |
| Permanent exclusions | 3 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 94% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 87.7% |
| School sixth form | 41.4% |
| Further education | 40.3% |
| Sixth form college | 5.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.9% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 3.7% |
| Employment | 1.5% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 88.6% |
| Higher education | 48.9% |
| Employment | 27.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 12.5% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 8% |
| Further education | 0% |
Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 mi | Primary | Wells Hall Primary School | Academy sponsor led | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 20 Jan 2026. | |
| 0.7 mi | Primary | Pot Kiln Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 1 Nov 2016. | |
| 1.5 mi | Primary | St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Voluntary controlled school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 20 Apr 2017. | |
| 1.7 mi | Primary | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | Academy converter | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 1.7 mi | Primary | Tudor Church of England Primary School, Sudbury | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 9 May 2018. | |
| 1.8 mi | Secondary | Ormiston Sudbury Academy | Academy sponsor led | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 24 Feb 2026. |
Thomas Gainsborough School is rated Good, last inspected on 19 Nov 2024. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.
Thomas Gainsborough School ranks 1,518 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 899 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 64% of schools).
In 2025/26, 43.7% of pupils at Thomas Gainsborough School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 46.7 (England 46.2).
In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Thomas Gainsborough School was B-, and 13.8% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Thomas Gainsborough School made 271 offers from 394 applications (1.5 per offer), and 260 of 260 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Thomas Gainsborough School has 1,603 pupils aged 11 to 18.
Thomas Gainsborough School had 1,780 school places in 2024/25.
Yes, Thomas Gainsborough School has a sixth form with 380 places in 2024/25.
At Thomas Gainsborough School, the average class had 22.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 19.8 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Thomas Gainsborough School missed 8.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 19.9% 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.