The Thetford Academy, Thetford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Thetford Academy creates a welcoming, happy community where pupils feel safe, supported and respected. Teachers explain lessons clearly and pupils respond well, with particularly strong support available for those with additional needs or reading difficulties. The school offers an impressive range of clubs and activities - from music and sport to languages and gardening - that help all pupils develop important life skills and feel prepared for their futures.
Key Strengths
- High expectations for achievement and behaviour create a calm, respectful learning environment with very rare disruption
- Strong support for pupils with SEND and those needing help with reading, enabling them to progress well
- Exceptional programme of enrichment activities including music, sport, Mandarin, gardening, school orchestra, and educational visits that develop leadership skills
- Carefully designed curriculum with well-sequenced knowledge and teachers with strong subject knowledge
- Improving sixth form outcomes due to curriculum improvements and better teaching
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged or with SEND, are frequently absent and miss important learning opportunities
- Occasionally pupils do not get enough chances to extend and deepen their understanding, meaning some do not make the progress leaders intend
- Staff need more knowledge and skills to consistently provide tasks that help pupils fully develop their understanding
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff listening to pupils and acting promptly on any concerns raised.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, sport, Mandarin, gardening, school orchestra, educational visits, sports captain positions, leadership roles
The Thetford Academy is a happy school community at the heart of its town where pupils are very proud to be part of the school and recognise the positive impact it makes on their lives. The school has maintained good standards with effective action taken since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
31.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
165 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
22.0
Avg class size
60
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
68%
Available places
1,398 pupils
2,050 capacity
652 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Thetford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Thetford
Admissions Demand - Norfolk
Places available
9,550
Applications
8,636
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
Secondary admissions across Norfolk (2025/26)
Inspection History(110)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.80636%
Overall absence
25.71861%
Persistent absence
1,322
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Thetford Academy
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