Thurston Community College
| Type | Secondary / Community school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Norton Road Thurston Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP31 3PB |
| Phone | 01359230885 |
| Reference Number | 124802 |
Thurston Community College maintains a good standard of education, evidenced by high aspirations reflected in its curriculum. Most pupils are engaged and produce high-quality work, with particular strengths in how reading is incorporated across subjects. However, some younger pupils struggle to retain knowledge due to inconsistent teaching approaches, and the lack of integration for sixth-form students within the main school life limits opportunities for enriched experiences. Despite effective support systems, a small number of behavioral issues disrupt lessons and increase anxiety for some pupils awaiting resolutions to their concerns.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1484 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 49.33%
Girls: 50.67% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 17.7% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 2.2% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 21.5 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 127 | 146 | 273 |
| 8 | 147 | 113 | 260 |
| 9 | 150 | 147 | 297 |
| 10 | 128 | 125 | 253 |
| 11 | 126 | 139 | 265 |
| 12 | 22 | 25 | 47 |
| 13 | 32 | 57 | 89 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 83.4% |
| Unclassified | 9.4% |
| White, Other | 2.6% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.6% |
| White & Asian | 1.3% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.4% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.3% |
| African | 0.2% |
| Indian | 0.1% |
| Irish | 0.1% |
| Caribbean | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 05 Mar 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 05 Mar 2024 | School inspection |
| 22 Mar 2018 | Full inspection: |
| 01 May 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 01 Mar 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 10 Feb 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 27 Nov 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 04 Mar 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- High academic aspirations reflected in the curriculum.
- Effective integration of reading across all subjects.
- Quality learning experiences for sixth-form students.
- Strong support for pupils with SEND when strategies are implemented.
- Well-planned personal, social, health, and economics education.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent application of behavior management policies.
- Some teachers do not use assessment effectively to adapt their teaching.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 46.9 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 50.6% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 60.8% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
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
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 32.59 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 33.19 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C+ | C+ | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | C+ | C+ | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 8.3% |
Unlock Premium
Get percentile rankings, historic result charts, admissions data, and post-GCSE destinations for every school.
£9.99 one-off payment. Lifetime access, no subscription.
Unlock for £9.992025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 119 | 12 |
| Third Preference | 30 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 10 | 6 |
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 |
|
Rougham Church of England Primary School
Church Road, Rougham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9JJ |
1.89 miles |
|
Great Barton Church of England Primary Academy
School Road, Great Barton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2RJ |
1.95 miles |
|
Abbots Green Primary Academy
Airfield Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7PJ |
2.48 miles |
|
Norton CEVC Primary School
School Close, Norton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3LZ |
2.48 miles |
|
Thurston Church of England Primary Academy
Pond Field Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3FT |
2.51 miles |
|
Sebert Wood Community Primary School
Sebert Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7EG |
3.1 miles |
|
Ixworth Church of England Primary School
Crown Lane, Ixworth, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2EL |
3.23 miles |
|
South Lee School
Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2BT |
3.94 miles |
|
Hardwick Primary School
Steward Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 2PW |
3.98 miles |
|
Guildhall Feoffment Community Primary School
Bridewell Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1RE |
4.06 miles |
|
St Edmund's Catholic Primary School
Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1QG |
4.2 miles |
|
Woolpit Primary Academy
Heath Road, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9RU |
4.29 miles |
|
Tollgate Primary School
Tollgate Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6DG |
4.45 miles |
|
St Edmundsbury CofE Primary Academy
Grove Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3BJ |
4.55 miles |
|
Great Whelnetham Church of England Primary School
Stanningfield Road, Great Whelnetham, Bury St. Edmunds, IP30 0UA |
4.6 miles |
|
Westgate Community Primary School and Nursery
Brooklands Close, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3JX |
4.63 miles |
|
Elmswell Community Primary School
Oxer Close, Elmswell, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9UE |
4.75 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Sybil Andrews Academy
Rougham Tower Avenue, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7QB |
2.28 miles |
|
Sir Peter Hall School
Airfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, IP32 7PJ |
2.43 miles |
|
Priory School
Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7BH |
3.49 miles |
|
Ixworth High School
Walsham Road, Ixworth, Suffolk, IP31 2HS |
3.5 miles |
|
Learning Support, Western Area Education Office
New Shire Hall, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2AR |
3.84 miles |
|
Riverwalk School
Mayfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 2PD |
4.29 miles |
|
King Edward VI CEVC School
Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3BH |
4.47 miles |
|
Bury St Edmunds County High School
Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6RF |
4.55 miles |
|
St Benedict's Catholic School
Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6RH |
4.56 miles |
|
West Suffolk College
Out Risbygate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3RL |
4.64 miles |
|
Abbeygate Sixth Form College
Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3YU |
4.68 miles |