Thomas Gainsborough School
115%
Capacity
1,615
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Thomas Gainsborough School
Parent feedback at Thomas Gainsborough School is notably positive, with 86% of respondents recommending the school to other parents. This comes from 180 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, a solid sample size. The school is also clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 418 applications for 272 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.54. Of those applications, 295 were first-preference requests, and 268 first-preference offers were made. Parents report strong satisfaction with behaviour and attitudes — 91% agree or strongly agree that the school ensures pupils are well behaved — and 92% feel their child is happy. The school also scores well on high expectations, with 92% of parents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the school holds high expectations for their child. These figures suggest a school that parents trust and that is in considerable demand across Babergh.
Academically, Thomas Gainsborough School performs above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.21 is rated as 'Above average' nationally, and it ranks first among the five secondary schools in Babergh. This is a strong contrast to the Suffolk local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.17. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.4, with 71.6% achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score sits at 4.2, though only 25.4% of pupils entered the EBacc combination. At Key Stage 5, the school's sixth form was judged Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection. A-level students achieved an average points per entry of 33.98, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels averaged a B-. The sixth form value added score is -0.04, which is in the 'Average' banding, indicating pupils make expected progress.
The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 1615 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1400, so applying as a first preference is essential. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision covers cricket, rowing, gymnastics, and hockey, while clubs include chess, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is well-documented, covering nine categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication needs, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health. However, parent views on SEND support are mixed: 73% agree or strongly agree that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 24% disagree or strongly disagree. This is a large secondary with a strong academic record and a popular sixth form, best suited to families who value a broad curriculum, good behaviour standards, and a school that is central to its community.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Wells Hall Road, Sudbury, Babergh, CO10 0NH |
| Headteacher | Craig Lewis |
| Local Authority | Suffolk |
| Number of Pupils | 1,615 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,615 / 1,400 (115% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.21)
1047th of 3,141
Nationally
113th of 350
In East of England
1st of 5
In Babergh
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
37.5
'22/23
35.4
'23/24
34.0
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
2022/2333%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 277 pupils).
- FE college40%
- School sixth form (stay)33%
- Sixth form college11%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship2%
92% 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
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 96 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
10%
Russell Group
17%
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)55%
- Employment23%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education2%
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- Psychology26
- Mathematics24
- History18
- Geography17
- Sociology17
- Biology15
- Chemistry11
- English Language10
- Law10
- Economics8
- Government and Politics8
- Physics8
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.
Ofsted Parent View
180 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed272
418
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
295 families put this school as their 1st choice (71% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: tgschool.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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 British84.8%
- Mixed4.6%
- White (other)4.3%
- Asian0.8%
- Black0.1%
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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 Thomas Gainsborough 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
Wells Hall Road, Sudbury
Babergh, CO10 0NH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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