Community school · Suffolk

Thurston Community College

11–18Ages
1,512Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
124802URN

Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodMar 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2024

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

close to Suffolk median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Suffolk

403 applications for 277 places · 26th of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.9of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

15th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodMar 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2024

Inspection history

6 March 2024
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
22 March 2018
Graded inspection: 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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

close to Suffolk median (1.6) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

403 applications · 277 places offered · 271 named it first

2026 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2025 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2024 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2023 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 1.3; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 1.3; Suffolk median median 1.5
2018 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.5
2017 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.5
2016 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.5
2015 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 1.1; Suffolk median median 1.5

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

This school
Suffolk 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	277	403	1.5	271	0.98
Sep 2025	286	417	1.5	268	0.94
Sep 2024	259	378	1.5	242	0.93
Sep 2023	253	374	1.5	234	0.92
Sep 2022	274	412	1.5	272	0.99
Sep 2021	236	353	1.5	224	0.95
Sep 2020	278	369	1.3	269	0.97
Sep 2019	275	357	1.3	254	0.92
Sep 2018	276	402	1.5	257	0.93
Sep 2017	267	361	1.4	262	0.98
Sep 2016	298	408	1.4	306	1.03
Sep 2015	296	356	1.2	307	1.04
Sep 2014	300	325	1.1	298	0.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

250 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.915th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%13th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.16

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	250	45.9	45%	65%	–
2024/25	265	46.9	51%	67%	–
2023/24	265	44.4	42%	65%	−0.16
2022/23	269	45.8	43%	66%	−0.14

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

Thurston Community CollegeThis school
This school

Remains Good2024

1.5applications per place 45.9Attainment 8
Sybil Andrews Academy
3.7 km · Suffolk

Good2023

1.9applications per place 52.6Attainment 8
Ixworth High School
5.6 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.0applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
King Edward VI CEVC School
7.2 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2024

1.8applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
Bury St Edmunds County High School
7.3 km · Suffolk

2026

2.4applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
St Benedict's Catholic School
7.4 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2025

2.5applications per place 51.9Attainment 8
Stowmarket High School
13.6 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
Stowupland High School
15.9 km · Suffolk

Requires improvement2023

1.9applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
The Thetford Academy
19.6 km · Norfolk

Standards maintained2025

1.1applications per place 44.9Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 124802 · 935/4024
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,800 pupils · 1,512 on roll
Free school meals: 19.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB
Local authority: Suffolk · Mid Suffolk

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