SchoolScoresThorns Collegiate Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST
Stockwell Avenue, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU
01384 987973 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 12 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
143 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Dudley comparisons use the 11 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 9 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Dudley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 12% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 75% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 9th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 11% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 76% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 9th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 8% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 67% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 71 parents whose child had been bullied 10th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 6% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 27% | 44% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 129 parents who had raised a concern Joint 8th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 21% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 65% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 9th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dudley. Higher than 12% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53%said yes | 71% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Dudley figures pool parents at the Dudley schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
179 pupils in this year group.
34% — 7 points below the Dudley average, and 12 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dudley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 34% | 41% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 38.7 | 43 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.4 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
171 pupils in this year group.
87% — 3 points below the Dudley average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dudley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 4% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 11% | 12% | 13% |
| Further education college | 67% | 59% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 87% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Dudley. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 147 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 124 |
| Of those, offered a place | 124 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 261 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Dudley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 35.0% | 30.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.6% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.1% | 13.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 10th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.7% | 11.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Lower than 34% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Lower than 26% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.2% | 25.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 22.8 | 18.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 16th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Lower than 18% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils | 0.78% | 0.48% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.2 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 13th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Dudley. Higher than 78% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 19.2% | 13.4%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- The Pedmore High School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Redhill School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI College Stourbridge 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- The Wordsley School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Old Swinford Hospital 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School Limited 2.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- The Link Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Impact Independent School 2.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention
- The Crestwood School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ormiston Forge Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thorns Collegiate Academy's Ofsted rating?
Thorns Collegiate Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 March 2024.
How did Thorns Collegiate Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 34% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Thorns Collegiate Academy?
53% of the 143 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Thorns Collegiate Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thorns Collegiate Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 124 families put Thorns Collegiate Academy as their first choice for 147 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 124 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 143818.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.