Thirsk School & Sixth Form College, Thirsk

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Thirsk School & Sixth Form College on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally achieve well, as national exam results show."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have improved pupils' attendance over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of teaching across the school and the areas that need further development."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils have a passion for learning more."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and governance give clear direction and support to staff and pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Personal development at Thirsk helps pupils grow in confidence, kindness and independence."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The sixth form at Thirsk helps students prepare well for their next steps."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure a consistent approach to curriculum and teaching so that across all subjects, pupils gain detailed knowledge and achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers effectively use assessment information to identify and address any gaps in pupils' key knowledge"; "Leaders should continue to build on the recent improvements around attendance to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly".

In its own words: "Have your say on proposed changes to North Yorkshire Council's Home to School Travel Policy. Following a Post Implementation Review of the updated Home to School Tavel policy introduced in2024, North Yorkshire Council is inviting views on a number of recommended changes. Theconsultation is open now and runs until 4 November 2026."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We offer a truly inclusive and diverse range of courses providing individual pathways that inspire and challenge our students as they progress to the next stage of their careers. Benefitting from being attached to the school but with its own distinctive and independent flavour, our Sixth Form College fully deserves its excellent reputation."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Thirsk School & Sixth Form College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in North Yorkshire and 47 across England.

23% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in North Yorkshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 43.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: 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 25.2, against 41.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.7 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 142 families put Thirsk School & Sixth Form College as their first choice and 263 named it as one of their preferences, for 153 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

174 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thirsk School & Sixth Form College (as of April 2026): 64% would recommend the school, 64% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (67%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).

Of the 195 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 10% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 58 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 50% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

4.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Thirsk School Grounds (adjacent), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 64 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Thirsk School & Sixth Form College issued 271 suspensions, 26.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Thirsk School & Sixth Form College are Sowerby Primary Academy (0.2 miles); All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.2 miles); Keeble Gateway Academy (0.3 miles); and Thirsk Community Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.