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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 143818

Thorns Collegiate Academy

Academy sponsor led · Brierley Hill · DY5 2NU

Ages 11–16 · 861 pupils · Dudley

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Attainment 8

36.5

Overall absence

9.6%

Admissions demand

0.93 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2024-03-12

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.52
−20+2
Attainment 836.5
English & maths grade 5+21%
English & maths grade 4+43%
EBacc entry41%

EBacc APS: 3.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.8%
Unauthorised4.0%
Authorised absence
5.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.9%
Enrolments in measure
996

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.93 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

136

Places offered

176

1st-preference offers

136

Total preferences (any rank)
238
Preferred offers (top 3)
148
Applications from outside LA
5
Offers to outside-LA applicants
3
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill86%

861 pupils · 1,000 places

Pupils on roll
861
Boys / girls
447 / 414
School capacity
1,000
Capacity fill
861 / 1,000 (86%)
Free school meals
37%
FSM pupils
319
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: SHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
SHIRELAND COLLEGIATE ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust
Headteacher
Ms Nicola Jones

Location

Address
Stockwell Avenue, Quarry Bank
Postcode
DY5 2NU
Town
Brierley Hill
County
West Midlands
Local authority
Dudley
District
Dudley
Constituency
Stourbridge
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Brierley Hill, Dudley, 861 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 37%.

Open schools in Brierley Hill
13
Secondary schools in Brierley Hill
1
Academies among open schools in Brierley Hill
46% (6)
Open schools in DY5
14
Secondary in DY5
1
Open schools in Dudley LA
118
Secondary in Dudley LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in Brierley HillNear DY5

  • The Pedmore High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Stourbridge · DY9 7HS · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.0
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence10.8%

    1.3 miles away

  • Redhill School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Stourbridge · DY8 1JX · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.9
    • P80.2
    • EM5+58%
    • Absence8.4%

    1.3 miles away

  • The Wordsley School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Stourbridge · DY8 5SP · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM39.7%

    1.6 miles away

  • Old Swinford Hospital

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Stourbridge · DY8 1QX · Dudley

    Ages 11–18

    • Att858.5
    • P80.4
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence9.0%

    1.6 miles away

  • The Link Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Dudley · DY2 0PB · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.8
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+34%
    • Absence11.1%

    2.1 miles away

  • The Crestwood School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Dudley · DY6 8QG · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence10.1%

    2.1 miles away

  • Ormiston Forge Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Cradley Heath · B64 6QU · Sandwell

    Ages 11–18

    • Att840.0
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence11.1%

    2.3 miles away

  • Ridgewood High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Stourbridge · DY8 3NQ · Dudley

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.2
    • P80.1
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence8.7%

    2.5 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Nicola Jones
Telephone
01384987973
Website
www.thornsca.org.uk

Official links