The Nelson Thomlinson School
N/A
Capacity
1,160
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About The Nelson Thomlinson School
The Nelson Thomlinson School in Cumberland holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a step down from the Outstanding it achieved in 2013. The school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.1, which places it in the ‘Average’ banding nationally. That might sound modest, but context matters: the average Progress 8 score for all secondary schools in the Cumberland local authority is -0.44, meaning pupils here make stronger progress than most of their peers across the region. In fact, the school ranks 4th out of 17 schools in the LA on this measure, putting it in the top quarter locally. Its Attainment 8 score of 47 is solid, and 71% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, a figure that comfortably exceeds the basics benchmark. The school’s maths Progress 8 score of +0.33 is particularly strong, suggesting pupils make notably good progress in that subject.
At Key Stage 5, the school’s sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted and serves 95 students. The average A-level grade per entry is C+, with a points score of 34.31 per entry. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade too, with a points total of 34.22. The value added score for the sixth form is 0.01, which is bang on average, and the progress banding is rated as ‘Average’. This means students generally achieve in line with expectations given their prior attainment. The proportion of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects is 15.1%, a respectable figure for a non-selective state school. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 23.7%, and 19.8% of pupils entered for the EBacc achieved a grade 4 or above in all components. While not a specialist academic powerhouse, the data paints a picture of a school that delivers consistent, above-average outcomes for its local context.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 246 applications for 152 places, with 146 first-preference offers made. That oversubscription ratio of 1.62 suggests strong local demand. Facilities are generous for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, a gymnasium, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are also music rooms, art studios, and an ICT suite. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Clubs include Eco Club, Model UN, Young Enterprise, choir, orchestra, and drama. This is a good fit for families in and around Wigton who want a large, mixed, non-denominational secondary with a strong sixth form, decent sports provision, and academic outcomes that are reliably above the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | High Street, Wigton, Cumberland, CA7 9PX |
| Headteacher | Sam Northwood |
| Local Authority | Cumberland |
| Number of Pupils | 1,160 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.6% |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.10)
1783rd of 3,141
Nationally
202nd of 445
In North West
4th of 17
In Cumberland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.9
'22/23
32.9
'23/24
34.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2352%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 204 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)52%
- FE college25%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained2%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 99 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
23%
Russell Group
27%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)60%
- Employment22%
- Apprenticeship14%
- Not sustained1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics38
- Geography32
- Sociology31
- History29
- Biology28
- Business Studies:Single26
- Psychology26
- English Language15
- Computer Studies / Computing14
- Chemistry13
- Physical Education / Sports Studies11
- Mathematics (Further)10
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed152
246
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
146 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Source: nts.cumbria.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.5%
- White (other)2.6%
- Asian1.1%
- Mixed1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Nelson Thomlinson School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
High Street, Wigton
Cumberland, CA7 9PX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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