Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form
Woodbridge, IP13 9HE · Suffolk · secondary school
Check the area around this school
11th 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 891 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.1/10 among them, against 5.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 44.2 · 48 | 30% | 1.43 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.1 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.8 · 59 | 10% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.1 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.6 out of 10 among them, against 5.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs including Archive, Chess, Film, and LEGO Robotics. Sports options cover archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, darts, dodgeball, and football. Music Technology is available for arts and music. Trips include a ski trip, Duke of Edinburgh Award, language exchanges, and a Holocaust Educational Trust visit.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,056 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,170. 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
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher attainment in English and maths? How does the school manage class sizes with
What Ofsted said about Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form
Overview
The report states that the school is ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking significant progress since its previous ‘Inadequate’ rating. Leaders have successfully improved the quality of education, behaviour, and personal development, creating a safe and welcoming environment where pupils feel supported. The inspection confirms that the school ‘no longer requires significant improvement’.
Strengths
- Pupils ‘feel safe at school’ and are ‘tolerant and welcoming’, with bullying described as ‘rare’.
- The curriculum is ‘well designed’ in most subjects, ensuring pupils build skills and knowledge over time.
- Teachers possess ‘good subject knowledge’ and are ‘skilled at breaking down tasks’, allowing pupils to access challenging work.
- Reading is ‘prioritised’ with dedicated lessons and extra help for those who struggle, improving fluency and understanding.
- Governors have ‘worked effectively to increase their skills and knowledge’, particularly regarding safeguarding and holding leaders to account.
Areas to improve
- In a minority of subjects, teachers focus on examination skills too early, meaning pupils do not learn a ‘broad enough range of subject content’ before attempting complex tasks.
- Teachers do not ‘consistently use assessment as well as they should’, resulting in gaps in some pupils’ knowledge not being addressed quickly enough.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, noting that leaders have addressed previous deficiencies and adults are well trained to identify and report concerns.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.8 |
| 2024/25 | 48.4 |
| 2025/26 | 47.8 |
| 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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