Academy sponsor led · Dudley

Thorns Collegiate Academy

11–16Ages
861Pupils
SecondaryPhase
143818URN

Stockwell Avenue, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.6 below Dudley median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Dudley

261 applications for 147 places · 18th of 19 in Dudley

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

37.6of 90

Dudley 44.2 England 46.0

17th of 19 in Dudley

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 12 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	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

1.8applications per place, Year 7

0.6 below Dudley median (2.3) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

261 applications · 147 places offered · 124 named it first

2026 1.8; Dudley median median 2.3
2025 1.5; Dudley median median 2.1
2024 1.4; Dudley median median 2.1
2023 1.4; Dudley median median 2.2
2022 1.7; Dudley median median 2.4
2021 1.7; Dudley median median 2.1
2020 1.8; Dudley median median 2.2
2019 1.3; Dudley median median 2.1
2018 1.4; Dudley median median 2.2
2017 1.8; Dudley median median 2.4; as the previous school
2016 1.6; Dudley median median 2.3; as the previous school
2015 1.6; Dudley median median 2.3; as the previous school
2014 1.7; Dudley median median 2.4; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Dudley median in 0 of 9 years.

This school
Dudley median

Dashed bars: as Thorns Community College (URN 103853), 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	147	261	1.8	124	0.84
Sep 2025	170	254	1.5	150	0.88
Sep 2024	176	238	1.4	136	0.77
Sep 2023	185	251	1.4	140	0.76
Sep 2022	178	294	1.7	157	0.88
Sep 2021	167	290	1.7	140	0.84
Sep 2020	177	312	1.8	141	0.80
Sep 2019	239	302	1.3	165	0.69
Sep 2018	187	267	1.4	159	0.85
Sep 2017 *	127	225	1.8	94	0.74
Sep 2016 *	173	283	1.6	141	0.82
Sep 2015 *	187	293	1.6	134	0.72
Sep 2014 *	200	338	1.7	181	0.91

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

162 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.617th of 19 in Dudley

Dudley 44.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths30%17th of 19 in Dudley

Dudley 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths44%

Dudley 61% England 66%

This school
Dudley median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.52

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	162	37.6	30%	44%	–
2024/25	179	38.7	34%	51%	–
2023/24	205	36.5	21%	43%	−0.52
2022/23	171	40.9	33%	56%	−0.25

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

Thorns Collegiate AcademyThis school
This school

Requires improvement2024

1.8applications per place 37.6Attainment 8
The Pedmore High School
2.1 km · Dudley

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 35.5Attainment 8
Redhill School
2.1 km · Dudley

Good2024

2.4applications per place 48.0Attainment 8
The Wordsley School
2.6 km · Dudley

Remains Good · concerns noted2024

1.8applications per place 36.9Attainment 8
Old Swinford Hospital
2.7 km · Dudley

2026

2.4applications per place 57.9Attainment 8
The Link Academy
3.4 km · Dudley

2026

1.8applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
The Crestwood School
3.5 km · Dudley

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
Ormiston Forge Academy
3.8 km · Sandwell

Standards maintained2025

1.6applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Ridgewood High School
4.0 km · Dudley

Good2023

2.5applications per place 44.0Attainment 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 sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 143818 · 332/4001
Trust: Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,000 pupils · 861 on roll
Free school meals: 37.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2017
Replaced: Thorns Community College (URN 103853)
Address: Stockwell Avenue, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU
Local authority: Dudley

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