Thomas Gainsborough School
Sudbury, CO10 0NH · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th 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 885 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.0/10 among them, against 5.5/10 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 2025/26 | 43.7 · 46 | 46% | 2.15 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.21 · 65 | 38% | 2.51 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.7 · 54 | 15% | 0.83 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thomas Gainsborough School overview
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 5.3 out of 10 among them, against 5.9 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can 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 cover bushcraft, cultural residencies, Ypres, Normandy, Berlin, Spain, Italy, and skiing.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,603 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,400. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are
What Ofsted said about Thomas Gainsborough School
Overview
Thomas Gainsborough School is described as a place where pupils feel "safe and happy" and behave in a manner "of which they can be proud." The report highlights a culture of high expectations, with pupils demonstrating "impeccable behaviour" and "high aspirations," particularly within the sixth form. Leaders are noted for having a "clear principled and moral purpose" to ensure pupils receive the highest standard of education.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit "exemplary" conduct, with bullying being "exceptionally rare" and an ethos of respect maintained across the school.
- The curriculum is "carefully considered and designed," with teachers providing clear explanations and effective use of activities to support knowledge retrieval.
- Sixth-form provision is praised for being "student-led," offering extensive enrichment opportunities such as mentoring, fundraising, and a popular debate society.
- Personal development is "highly positive," with pupils well-prepared to stand up to harassment and benefiting from successful careers education.
- Staff receive positive professional development opportunities and support with workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) must be more precise, as some are not always able to fully access their learning due to insufficient planning.
- The approach to checking pupils’ written work needs to be "sufficiently rigorous in all subjects" to ensure errors and misconceptions are identified and corrected promptly.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.4 |
| 2024/25 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 46.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
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.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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