Thurstable School

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted judgements: Good

Maypole Road, Tiptree, Colchester, CO5 0EWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Thurstable School is a secondary school in Colchester for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 10th of 14 secondary schools in Colchester. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 May 2025, report published 23 June 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Sixth form provision: Good
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

205 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score41.9

41.9, 4.2 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%

42%, 3.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths63.9%

63.9%, 0.9 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc47.3%

47.3%, 6.8 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.89

3.89, 0.2 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

932 pupils on roll, with places for 1,275

Eligible for free school meals18.5%

18.5%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language2.7%

2.7%, 18.9 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support16.2%

16.2%, 1.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.2%

3.2%, 2.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Thurstable School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Honywood School	5 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 46.3
Lift New Rickstones	5 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 40.6
Lift Maltings	5 miles	Report card: Needs attention to expected standard	Attainment 8: 39.9
The Stanway School	6 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 48.2
Paxman Academy	6 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 41.3

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THURSTABLE SCHOOL
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mr James Ketley
Phone: 01621816526
Website: thurstable.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Maypole Road, Tiptree, Colchester, CO5 0EW
Local authority: Essex
URN: 137241

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.