Thurstable School is a secondary school in Colchester, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Thurstable School currently has around 1031 pupils on roll, which is about 81% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 49.1% boys and 50.9% girls. Around 17.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 7.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 19.8%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (92.9%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 94% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (80%) , including 30% who stay in school sixth forms and 28% progressing to further education , while 11% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Maypole Road, Colchester, CO5 0EW |
| Website: | http://www.thurstable.co.uk |
| Telephone: | 01621816526 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Essex |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr James Ketley |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 137241 |
Ofsted inspection date: 20/05/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1275 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1031 |
| Number of Boys: | 506 |
| Number of Girls: | 525 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 7.5% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 19.8% | 8.2% |
| White British | 92.90% | 958 |
| Other White | 2.10% | 22 |
| White and Asian | 1.30% | 13 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.90% | 9 |
| Other Mixed | 0.80% | 8 |
| White and Black African | 0.70% | 7 |
| African | 0.40% | 4 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.30% | 3 |
| Chinese | 0.20% | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.20% | 2 |
| Other Black | 0.10% | 1 |
| Unclassified | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.10% | 1 |
| Other Asian | 0.00% | 0 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.00% | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Indian | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milldene Primary School 65 Barbrook Lane , Tiptree CO5 0EF | 3out of 4 | 365 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Baynards Primary School Townsend Road , Tiptree CO5 0ND | 3out of 4 | 573 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School 66 Church Road , Tiptree CO5 0SU | 3out of 4 | 1,038 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Messing Primary School School Road , Messing CO5 9TH | - not rated | 1,602 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Messing-Cum-Inworth Primary School School Road , Messing CO5 9TH | - not rated | 1,602 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurstable School Maypole Road , Tiptree CO5 0EW | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Thurstable School Sports College and Sixth Form Centre Maypole Road , Tiptree CO5 0EW | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.