Thurstable School, Colchester

In its own words: "Thurstable School has been a central element of the Tiptree and Blackwater communities for decades and is known and loved by many in the local community. We recognise that parents of our current children, local business owners and other members of the community that we serve have either attended Thurstable themselves or know someone who has."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome to Thurstable School, a school built on the ethos of building knowledge and growing character . At the heart of everything we do lies our core values of aspire , respect and endeavour , values that are lived and not just laminated."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, STEM, debating and cheerleading.

On phones, the school says: "Students will maintain possession of their phones and will not use them until their pouches are opened at the end of the school day at one of the two exit points - front of school and Barbrook Gate."

In 2026, pupils at Thurstable School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

52% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.19: 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 33.7, against 48.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.2 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 147 families put Thurstable School as their first choice and 383 named it as one of their preferences, for 184 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 Thurstable School are Honywood School (4.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1); and The Stanway School (5.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.3).

Thurstable School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

126 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thurstable School (as of September 2025): 70% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 74% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (87%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (70%).

Of the 210 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 74 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 32% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 5% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (5%).

The nearest railway station is Kelvedon Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Thurstable School (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 41 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).

In 2024/25, Thurstable School issued 170 suspensions, 16.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Thurstable School are Milldene Primary School (0.2 miles), Baynards Primary School (0.3 miles), St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School (0.6 miles) and Messing Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.