Thornaby Academy

Thornaby Academy is a rapidly improving school that demonstrates a strong standard of education and care for its pupils. Leaders and governors have worked collaboratively to implement effective systems that have facilitated considerable progress in various areas. The trust's support has significantly contributed to the school's positive trajectory, particularly in leadership and governance, as well as in achieving a conducive learning environment. Pupils feel safe and are well-prepared for life beyond school, benefiting from a robust personal development programme and effective pastoral support.

Strengths

• Leaders are aligned in their purpose to provide the best start for all pupils.
• Effective personal development and wellbeing programme supports pupils' readiness for the future.
• Strong leadership and governance supported by the trust.
• High levels of staff support and positive culture within the school.
• Robust systems for analysing attendance and improving pupil attendance rates.
• Effective inclusion practices that support disadvantaged and SEND pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Need for improved consistency in curriculum delivery across all subjects.
• Attendance rates remain above national averages, indicating areas for improvement.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Thornaby Academy attended 85.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 42.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 34.5% of pupils at Thornaby Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 4 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Thornaby Academy had 16.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 18.5% of pupils at Thornaby Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 2 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Thornaby Academy received £9,993 and spent £10,528 for each of its 484 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £509,000 (£1,051 per pupil).

Across all 30 schools of Northern Education Trust, income was £8,462 and spending £8,166 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Stockton-On-Tees · Stockton-on-Tees local authority: places and applications

Thornaby Academy is part of Northern Education Trust, which runs 30 schools. The nearest others:

• North Shore Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• The Oak Tree Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• The Grangefield Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• Norton Primary Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• Manor Community Academy Hartlepool
• Dyke House Sports and Technology College Hartlepool
• Freebrough Academy Saltburn-By-The-Sea
• Badger Hill Academy Saltburn-By-The-Sea
• Whitecliffe Academy Saltburn-By-The-Sea

What is Thornaby Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thornaby Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Thornaby Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Thornaby Academy was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Thornaby Academy have?

Thornaby Academy has 443 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thornaby Academy cover?

Thornaby Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Thornaby Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 42.4, and 51% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Thornaby Academy?

Thornaby Academy is at Baysdale Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 9DB.