The Thetford Academy, Thetford

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thetford Academy is a school at the academic and cultural heart of our community. We teach our pupils a curriculum that provides them with a thorough understanding of the world in which we live, an appreciation of what is amazing and beautiful, and preparation for the challenges we face."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance and drama.

In 2026, pupils at The Thetford Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45 in Norfolk and 47 across England.

47% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Norfolk and 47% in England.

That is up from 42.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.04: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.5, against 48.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 218 families put The Thetford Academy as their first choice and 255 named it as one of their preferences, for 232 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The Thetford Academy is one of 18 schools run by Inspiration Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.5 in 2024/25.

165 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Thetford Academy (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

Of the 190 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 68 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 60% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 22% into work. 8% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

32.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 83 pupils (5.9%) received SEN support and 73 (5.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The Thetford Academy has a resourced provision for other difficulties or disabilities, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties: 25 places, 25 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Thetford Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rosemary Musker School (opposite), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 88 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Thetford Academy issued 605 suspensions, 44.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Thetford Academy are Drake Primary School (0.4 miles), Admirals Academy (0.4 miles), Raleigh Infant Academy (0.4 miles) and Norwich Road Academy (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.