Thirsk School & Sixth Form College
| Type | Secondary / Community school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Topcliffe Road Sowerby Thirsk North Yorkshire YO7 1RZ |
| Phone | 01845522024 |
| Reference Number | 121666 |
Thirsk School & Sixth Form College demonstrates a strong performance overall, with effective leadership and a commitment to improving student outcomes. The school has established a positive culture where safeguarding is prioritized, and leaders are focused on raising aspirations among pupils. While most students are advancing well in their learning, some subject areas show variability in pupil progress. The school has made significant improvements in attendance and behavior, fostering a conducive learning environment. The sixth form provision is well-regarded, with students being well-prepared for their future education and employment paths, although there is an ongoing need to address inconsistencies in teaching practices to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1014 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 47.73%
Girls: 52.27% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 21.8% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 5.5% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 20.5 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 81 | 101 | 182 |
| 8 | 72 | 82 | 154 |
| 9 | 94 | 106 | 200 |
| 10 | 97 | 91 | 188 |
| 11 | 83 | 82 | 165 |
| 12 | 39 | 41 | 80 |
| 13 | 18 | 27 | 45 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 89.4% |
| White, Other | 3.5% |
| Unclassified | 2.2% |
| African | 1.1% |
| White & Asian | 0.6% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.5% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.5% |
| Indian | 0.4% |
| Caribbean | 0.2% |
| Asian, Other | 0.2% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.1% |
| Chinese | 0.1% |
| Irish | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Expected standard |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Expected standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Expected standard |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Post-16 Provision | Expected standard |
| Last Report Date | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 24 Mar 2026 | School inspection |
| 02 Feb 2022 | School inspection |
| 28 Mar 2017 | Full inspection |
| 20 Sep 2012 | Full inspection |
| 07 Jan 2011 | Interim assessment |
| 16 Sep 2010 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 28 Apr 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 16 Jan 2008 | Full inspection |
| 06 Mar 2007 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 31 Jan 2005 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong leadership and governance providing clear direction.
- Positive culture of safeguarding, ensuring pupils feel safe.
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, leading to positive progress.
- Improved attendance and reduced suspensions over the past 3 years.
- Partnerships with local authorities enhancing pupil support.
- Broad curriculum that fosters pupils' passion for learning.
- Engaging sixth form provision preparing students well for future paths.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent progress in a small number of subjects.
- Variable teaching practices affecting knowledge retention.
- Some pupils still do not attend school regularly.
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 43.5 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 38.8% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 57% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 30.98 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 31.67 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C | C+ | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | C+ | B- | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 6.3% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 59 | 5 |
| Third Preference | 39 | 3 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
Sowerby Primary Academy
Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, Sowerby Primary Academy, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1RX |
0.17 miles |
|
All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Green Lane East, Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1NB |
0.24 miles |
|
Keeble Gateway Academy
Inspiration Way, Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1TS |
0.34 miles |
|
Thirsk Community Primary School
Hambleton Place, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1SL |
0.98 miles |
|
Carlton Miniott Primary Academy
Carlton Miniott, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4NJ |
1.87 miles |
|
South Kilvington Church of England Academy
Stockton Road, South Kilvington, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 2LR |
1.94 miles |
|
Alanbrooke Academy
Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe, Alanbrooke Barracks, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3SF |
2.81 miles |
|
Topcliffe CofE Academy
School Lane, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3RG |
3.38 miles |
|
Knayton Church of England Academy
Stockton Road, Knayton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4AN |
4.49 miles |
|
Sessay Church of England Primary School
Sessay, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3NA |
4.57 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Breckenbrough School
Sandhutton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4EN |
2.88 miles |
|
Queen Mary's School
Baldersby Park, Thirsk, YO7 3BZ |
3.82 miles |
|
Darwin School
Baldersby St James, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4PT |
4.64 miles |