Thomas Clarkson Academy, Wisbech

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thomas Clarkson is a successful, vibrant, warm and welcoming Academy that proudly supports our local community. Our motto of ' Transform, Challenge, Aspire ' frames our approach to education. We endeavour to 'Transform' the lives of all our students by ensuring they get the supportive 'challenge' they need to meet the dreams to which they 'Aspire'."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, basketball, badminton, dance, drama, guitar, chess and coding.

In 2026, pupils at Thomas Clarkson Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.3 in Cambridgeshire and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Cambridgeshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 37.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.23: pupils made below 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 30.8, against 43.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Hospitality and Catering.

For September 2026 entry, 239 families put Thomas Clarkson Academy as their first choice and 324 named it as one of their preferences, for 223 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 27 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Thomas Clarkson Academy are The Wisbech Academy (0.3 miles); and Marshland High School (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.3).

Thomas Clarkson Academy is one of 12 schools run by The Brooke Weston Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.4 in 2024/25.

73 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thomas Clarkson Academy (as of September 2025): 67% would recommend the school, 70% say their child is happy there and 41% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (41%).

Of the 231 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 65% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 21% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

42.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 32.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 198 pupils (15.3%) received SEN support and 80 (6.2%) 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 moderate learning difficulty.

Thomas Clarkson Academy has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 20 places, 24 pupils on roll.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Thomas Clarkson Academy.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Corporation Road (near), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Thomas Clarkson Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 234 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Thomas Clarkson Academy issued 255 suspensions, 18.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Thomas Clarkson Academy are Elm Road Primary School (0.3 miles), Ramnoth Junior School (0.4 miles), The Nene Infant & Nursery School (0.5 miles) and St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.