Located in Bury St Edmunds, Thurston Community College is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a community school 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. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.

Thurston Community College currently has around 1484 pupils on roll, which is about 82% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 49.3% boys and 50.7% girls. Around 17.7% 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 8.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 24%.

The majority of pupils are from a white british background (83.4%).

At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

Around 97% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (89%) , including 48% who stay in school sixth forms and 41% progressing to further education , while 5% enter apprenticeships .

School Information

Address: Norton Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB
Website: http://www.thurstoncollege.org/
Telephone: 01359230885
School Type: Community school
Education phase: Secondary
Local authority: Suffolk
Headteacher / Principal: Ms Ma?ve Taylor
Religious character: Does not apply
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Unique reference: 124802

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Overall effectiveness
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 22/03/2018

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 11 - 18
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 1800
Number of Pupils: 1484
Number of Boys: 732
Number of Girls: 752

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 8.5% 4%
Persistent absence: 24% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British83.40%1238
Unclassified9.40%140
Other White2.60%39
Other Mixed1.60%24
White and Asian1.30%19
White and Black Caribbean0.40%6
White and Black African0.30%4
African0.20%3
Other (any other ethnic group)0.20%3
Indian0.10%2
Other Black0.10%2
Gypsy/Roma0.10%1
Irish0.10%1
Bangladeshi0.10%1
Caribbean0.10%1
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0
Chinese0.00%0
Other Asian0.00%0
Pakistani0.00%0

Education - Secondary

Progress 8 score

Progress 8: Average (-0.14)
Of the 269 pupils at the end of key stage 4 in this school, 264 are included in this measure.
Progress 8 score (average over pupils)
School
-0.14
Town average
0.06
Local authority average
-0.02
England average
-0.03
Entering EBacc
School
13%
Town average
31%
Local authority average
36%
England average
35%
Grade 5+ in English & maths GCSEs
School
43%
Town average
35%
Local authority average
37%
England average
41%
Attainment 8 score
School
45.8
Town average
38.5
Local authority average
45.0
England average
44.6
EBacc average point score
School
3.8
Town average
3.4
Local authority average
4.0
England average
3.9
Staying in education or employment
School
97%

Nearby Schools

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Thurston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
School Lane , Thurston IP31 3RY
- not rated 1,047 yd Voluntary controlled school No Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Thurston Community College
Norton Road , Thurston IP31 3PB
3out of 4 0 yd Community school No Mixed More About School

Middle deemed secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Beyton Middle School
Drinkstone Road , Beyton IP30 9AA
- not rated 3,202 yd Community school No Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.