Thurston Community College
Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Thurston Community College is a secondary school in Bury St Edmunds for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 4th of 5 secondary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 22 March 2018, report published 1 May 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 5 March 2024
Many pupils benefit from the high aspiration reflected in the school's curriculum. They secure and retain important knowledge and produce high-quality work. However, for a small minority of younger pupils, this ambition is not always realised in their lessons. Some pupils struggle to remember what they have been taught. There are a very small number of pupils who struggle to meet the school's high expectations of conduct. This causes interruption to some lessons. This frustrates other pupils who are well behaved, polite and respectful. Pupils have confidence in adults to help them if they need it. They feel safe in school. However, sometimes it takes too long for pupils to find out how the school has addressed the issue that is worrying them. This causes some pupils increased levels of anxiety while they wait for information. Students in the sixth form enjoy high-quality learning experiences. They value the support provided by both pastoral and academic staff. Students value the independence that studying in a positive, calm college atmosphere creates. However, sixth-form students are not routinely part of the main school life. This results in opportunities being missed to enrich experiences for pupils and sixth-form students alike.
What the school should improve
- Staff do not apply the school's policy to manage pupils' behaviour consistently. This means that some pupils struggle to understand what is expected of them and to meet the school's high standards. The school should ensure that all staff understand what is expected, are trained to deliver the agreed policies and then enact them consistently at all times.
- Not all teachers use assessment effectively. This means they do not have the information they need to adapt their teaching and move pupils on when they are ready. Pupils' learning is compromised. The school should ensure that all teachers use assessment strategies well and use this information to adapt their approaches to meet the needs of all pupils.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
265 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
77 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,512 pupils on roll, with places for 1,800
Schools near Thurston Community College
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sybil Andrews Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 49.5 |
| Ixworth High School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 44.0 |
| King Edward VI CEVC School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.4 |
| Bury St Edmunds County High School | 5 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 49.8 |
| St Benedict's Catholic School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 49.8 |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Ms Maéve Taylor
- Phone
- 01359230885
- Address
- Norton Road, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3PB
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 124802
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.