Academy converter · Suffolk

Thomas Gainsborough School

11–18Ages
1,603Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
141639URN

Wells Hall Road, Great Cornard, Sudbury, CO10 0NH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

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

394 applications for 271 places · 26th of 41 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.7of 90

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

12th of 43 in Suffolk

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 19 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision	Outstanding

Inspection history

19 November 2024
Graded inspection, no overall grade
14 September 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Improving)

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)

394 applications · 271 places offered · 260 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 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2022 1.6; Suffolk median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.6
2020 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.4
2019 1.6; 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 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.5
2014 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.5; as the previous school

This school
Suffolk median

Dashed bars: as Thomas Gainsborough School (URN 124797), the previous school.

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	271	394	1.5	260	0.96
Sep 2025	272	418	1.5	295	1.08
Sep 2024	274	419	1.5	297	1.08
Sep 2023	280	454	1.6	331	1.18
Sep 2022	280	433	1.6	335	1.20
Sep 2021	280	430	1.5	304	1.09
Sep 2020	280	402	1.4	298	1.06
Sep 2019	280	439	1.6	340	1.21
Sep 2018	280	426	1.5	329	1.18
Sep 2017	278	375	1.4	277	1.00
Sep 2016	277	379	1.4	268	0.97
Sep 2015	256	374	1.5	251	0.98
Sep 2014 *	239	330	1.4	229	0.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

277 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.712th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 43.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%17th of 43 in Suffolk

Suffolk 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths66%

Suffolk 62% England 66%

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.21

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	277	46.7	44%	66%	–
2024/25	254	46.1	46%	65%	–
2023/24	268	48.4	52%	72%	+0.21
2022/23	272	50.3	55%	76%	+0.28

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

Thomas Gainsborough SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.5applications per place 46.7Attainment 8
Ormiston Sudbury Academy
2.9 km · Suffolk

2026

1.5applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
The Ramsey Academy, Halstead
11.4 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
Hedingham School and Sixth Form
12.2 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 43.5Attainment 8
Stour Valley Community School
12.8 km · Suffolk

Good2023

1.6applications per place 44.5Attainment 8
Hadleigh High School
14.6 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2024

1.3applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
The Trinity School
16.5 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.9applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
The Gilberd School
16.5 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

3.9applications per place 49.9Attainment 8
The Stanway School
16.9 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

3.1applications per place 48.3Attainment 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: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 141639 · 935/4019
Trust: Unity Schools Partnership
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,400 pupils · 1,603 on roll
Free school meals: 20.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 2015
Replaced: Thomas Gainsborough School (URN 124797)
Address: Wells Hall Road, Great Cornard, Sudbury, CO10 0NH
Local authority: Suffolk · Babergh

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