Thomas Gainsborough School
Sudbury, CO10 0NH · Suffolk · secondary school
9th of 43 secondary schools in Suffolk we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 925 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.2/10 among them, against 5.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 45.7 · 55 | 46% | 2.54 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.21 · 65 | 38% | 2.51 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 46.1 · 52 | 15% | 0.80 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 45.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.21 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.2 out of 10 among them, against 5.9 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join the Duke of Edinburgh, Eco-Committee, and TGS 50 Books clubs. Sports include athletics, basketball, football, netball, swimming, Highland games, rugby, and cricket. Arts and music offer tuition, LAMDA lessons, Art Award, and Arts Mark. Trips visit Ypres, Normandy, Berlin, Spain, Italy, and ski resorts.
Getting in. The school has 1615 pupils in a capacity of 1400, exceeding it by 215. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the pressure of being 215 pupils over capacity? What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How do the arts and sports programmes fit into the daily timetable?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
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