Thornaby Academy, Stockton-on-Tees

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Thornaby Academy on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and governors are aligned in their purpose to give all pupils at the school the best possible start in life."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have embedded an extensive and well-constructed personal, social, health, citizenship and economic (PSHCE) programme."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement in national tests and examinations has improved over time."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders analyse attendance data systematically and effectively."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed and established a broad, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a culture of inclusion across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all subjects and that this is reflected by further improvements in pupils' achievement"; "Leaders should secure and maintain high levels of attendance over time by further strengthening their work with families and external partners".

In 2026, pupils at Thornaby Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.7 in Stockton-on-Tees and 47 across England.

51% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Stockton-on-Tees and 47% in England.

That is up from 40.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.36: 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 38, against 52.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 56 families put Thornaby Academy as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 63 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 nearest other state secondary schools to Thornaby Academy are St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46); Acklam Grange School (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 48.8); Outwood Academy Acklam (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.7); and Macmillan Academy (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.3).

Thornaby Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Thornaby Academy is one of 30 schools run by Northern Education Trust, an academy trust.

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

12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thornaby Academy (as of April 2026): 42% would recommend the school, 33% say their child is happy there and 29% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (42%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (29%).

Of the 85 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 75% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

66.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

Thornaby Academy has a resourced provision for other difficulties or disabilities: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Thornaby Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Academy (b), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 451 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Stockton-on-Tees (204), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Thornaby Academy issued 1114 suspensions, 233.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Thornaby Academy are Thornaby Church of England Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Village Primary School (0.6 miles); Christ The King Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (0.6 miles); and Mandale Mill Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.