Thorns Collegiate Academy
Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU · Dudley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
18th of 18 secondary schools in Dudley we can score, 19 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.0/10 against 581 of them, against 1.5/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 30.2 · 16 | 30% | 0.48 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.52 · 15 | 25% | 0.37 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.6 · 11 | 10% | 0.11 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thorns Collegiate Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.52 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Peter Pan Performing Arts Academy, NRG Dance, and various social clubs. Sports include football, rugby, basketball, and netball. Trips range from fields trips to Weston Super Mare and residentials to PGL and Alton Towers, alongside a ski trip.
Getting in
The published school roll is 861 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific actions are being taken to address the Requires improvement rating from the 2024 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Thorns Collegiate Academy
Overview
Thorns Collegiate Academy is described as a school where leaders and staff are “unrelenting in their desire to improve” following a previous inadequate rating. While the culture is becoming “truly inclusive” with many pupils happy and proud, significant variability in teaching quality and persistent behavioural issues among some older pupils currently hinder overall progress. The report notes that the school “no longer requires special measures.”
Strengths
- Staff care deeply about pupils’ well-being, creating an environment where many are “happy at school” and involved in diverse clubs and community activities.
- The curriculum is “broad, balanced and innovative,” particularly the ‘literacy for life’ approach which helps pupils connect learning across subjects.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, with one parent describing the support as “brilliant.”
- Personal, health and social education is well-planned, providing pupils with knowledge to make “good decisions” regarding local risks and careers.
Areas to improve
- The school must develop a culture where “all pupils share a set of common values” to address poor behaviour and lack of respect from some older pupils.
- Pupils removed from lessons require “effective support” to keep up with their learning and improve their behaviour, which is currently insufficient.
- Teachers must consistently check that pupils understand and remember key knowledge to ensure the curriculum is implemented well across all subjects, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
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 | 36.5 |
| 2024/25 | 38.7 |
| 2025/26 | 37.6 |
| 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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