Voluntary controlled school · Cumberland

The Nelson Thomlinson School

11–18Ages
1,095Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
112397URN

High Street, Wigton, CA7 9PX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.4 below Cumberland median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Cumberland

243 applications for 170 places · 14th of 16 in Cumberland

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.1of 90

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

4th of 19 in Cumberland

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 17 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Cumberland median (1.9) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

243 applications · 170 places offered · 163 named it first

2026 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.9
2025 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.9
2024 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.5
2023 1.3; Cumberland median median 1.8
2022 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2021 1.7; Cumberland median median 1.8
2020 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.7
2019 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2018 1.5; Cumberland median median 1.8
2017 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.7
2016 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.6
2015 1.6; Cumberland median median 1.6
2014 1.4; Cumberland median median 1.5

More applications per place than the Cumberland median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Cumberland median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	170	243	1.4	163	0.96
Sep 2025	152	246	1.6	146	0.96
Sep 2024	198	285	1.4	194	0.98
Sep 2023	196	261	1.3	196	1.00
Sep 2022	180	263	1.5	178	0.99
Sep 2021	206	352	1.7	209	1.01
Sep 2020	210	313	1.5	214	1.02
Sep 2019	210	337	1.6	216	1.03
Sep 2018	199	291	1.5	197	0.99
Sep 2017	199	315	1.6	193	0.97
Sep 2016	206	297	1.4	204	0.99
Sep 2015	189	304	1.6	179	0.95
Sep 2014	218	300	1.4	217	1.00

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

197 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.14th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 41.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%8th of 19 in Cumberland

Cumberland 33% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%

Cumberland 56% England 66%

This school
Cumberland median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.10

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	197	43.1	36%	58%	–
2024/25	194	46.2	47%	74%	–
2023/24	207	47.0	50%	71%	−0.10
2022/23	197	46.5	45%	67%	−0.11

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Nelson Thomlinson SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.4applications per place 43.1Attainment 8
Caldew School
11.6 km · Cumberland

Good2022

2.6applications per place 40.5Attainment 8
Beacon Hill Community School
13.1 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Richard Rose Morton Academy
13.5 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
Solway Community School
15.7 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.5applications per place 31.8Attainment 8
Trinity School
16.6 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
Richard Rose Central Academy
17.0 km · Cumberland

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
St John Henry Newman Catholic School
18.1 km · Cumberland

Good2022

2.2applications per place 38.9Attainment 8
Cockermouth School
21.3 km · Cumberland

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 47.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 112397 · 942/4501
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Free school meals: 14.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: High Street, Wigton, CA7 9PX
Local authority: Cumberland

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources