Located in Brierley Hill, Thorns Collegiate Academy is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.

Thorns Collegiate Academy currently has around 895 pupils on roll, which is about 90% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.8% boys and 47.2% girls. Around 34.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 9.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 30.8%.

The majority of pupils are from a white british background (74.5%).

At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Requires Improvement. This means the school has areas that require improvement. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

School Information

Address: Stockwell Avenue, Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU
Website: www.thornsca.org.uk
Telephone: 01384987973
School Type: Academy sponsor led
Education phase: Secondary
Local authority: Dudley
Headteacher / Principal: Ms Nicola Jones
Religious character: Does not apply
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Unique reference: 143818

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Overall effectiveness
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 12/03/2024

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 11 - 16
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 1000
Number of Pupils: 895
Number of Boys: 473
Number of Girls: 422

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 9.6% 4%
Persistent absence: 30.8% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British74.50%667
Unclassified8.80%79
Pakistani4.10%37
White and Black Caribbean2.60%23
Other White2.20%20
White and Asian1.80%16
African1.80%16
Other Mixed1.10%10
Other (any other ethnic group)0.80%7
White and Black African0.80%7
Indian0.40%4
Other Asian0.30%3
Chinese0.20%2
Bangladeshi0.10%1
Caribbean0.10%1
Other Black0.10%1
Gypsy/Roma0.10%1
Irish0.00%0
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0

Education - Secondary

Progress 8 score

Progress 8: Below average (-0.25)
Of the 171 pupils at the end of key stage 4 in this school, 168 are included in this measure.
Progress 8 score (average over pupils)
School
-0.25
Local authority average
-0.10
England average
-0.03
Entering EBacc
School
49%
Local authority average
26%
England average
35%
Grade 5+ in English & maths GCSEs
School
33%
Local authority average
36%
England average
41%
Attainment 8 score
School
40.9
Local authority average
40.1
England average
44.6
EBacc average point score
School
3.3
Local authority average
3.4
England average
3.9
Staying in education or employment
School

Nearby Schools

Nursery

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Cradley Heath Nursery School
Graingers Lane , B64 6AH
- not rated 2,510 yd Local authority nursery school Not Applicable Mixed More About School

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Thorns Primary School
Thorns Road , Quarry Bank DY5 2JY
3out of 4 181 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School
Thorns Primary School
Thorns Road , Quarry Bank DY5 2JY
- not rated 181 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Mount Pleasant Primary School
Mount Pleasant , Quarry Bank DY5 2YN
- not rated 779 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
Withymoor Primary School
Gayfield Avenue , Off Turners Lane DY5 2BH
3out of 4 820 yd Academy converter Yes Mixed More About School
Withymoor Primary School
Gayfield Avenue , Off Turners Lane DY5 2BH
- not rated 820 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Thorns Community College
Stockwell Avenue , DY5 2NU
- not rated 0 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School
Thorns Collegiate Academy
Stockwell Avenue , DY5 2NU
2out of 4 0 yd Academy sponsor led No Mixed More About School
Cradley High School
Homer Hill , B63 2UP
- not rated 1,954 yd Community school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Pedmore Technology College and Community School
Grange Lane , Pedmore DY9 7HS
- not rated 2,269 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School
The Pedmore High School
Grange Lane , Pedmore DY9 7HS
3out of 4 2,269 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School

16 plus

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
King Edward VI College Stourbridge
Lower High Street , DY8 1TD
- not rated 2,528 yd Further education Not Applicable Mixed More About School
King Edward VI College Stourbridge
Lower High Street , DY8 1TD
- not rated 2,556 yd Academy 16-19 converter No Mixed More About School
Stourbridge College
Hagley Road , DY8 1QU
- not rated 2,907 yd Further education Not Applicable Mixed More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
The Old Park School
Thorns Road , DY5 2JY
4out of 4 286 yd Community special school No Mixed More About School
Elton House School
186 Stourbridge Road , Stambermill DY9 7BU
- not rated 1,406 yd Other independent school Not Applicable Boys More About School
Barnardo's Wheels
Unit 3 Gainsborough Trading Estate , Rufford Road DY9 7ND
- not rated 2,053 yd Other independent school No Mixed More About School
INNOV4TE Independent School
Blantyre House, Barrack Lane , B63 2UX
- not rated 2,180 yd Other independent special school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Black Country Wheels School
Units 3 & 4 , Gainsborough Trading Estate DY9 7ND
- not rated 2,182 yd Other independent school No Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.