Schools by area › North Yorkshire › Thirsk School & Sixth Form College
Thirsk School & Sixth Form College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school
Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, Thirsk YO7 1RZ · thirskschool.org · 01845 522024
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.5
- average Attainment 8 score. North Yorkshire 46.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,029
- 82% of 1,255 places
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.5%
- First language not English
- 4.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 142 families put the school first and 153 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 153 | 142 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 172 | 160 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 180 | 160 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 154 | 139 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 175 | 183 | 1▲ | 94% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.5, and 38.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across North Yorkshire it was 46.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.4 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼38.8% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼58.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲45.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ●3.93 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 37.9 | −3.7 |
| Sixth form college | 9.7 | +7.7 |
| Further education | 32.8 | +6 |
| Other education | 1 | +0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.7 | −2.4 |
| Employment | 2.6 | −4.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.1 | −1.3 |
| Activity not captured | 2.1 | −1.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 students | C (30.4) | Average -0.05 | |
| 43 students | C (31) | Average 0.00 | |
| 12 students | Dist (35.3) | Average +0.32 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 53 | C+ (32.9) | -0.07 |
| 2022/23 | 47 | C+ (31.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 49 | C+ (34.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 64 | C (30.7) | -0.20 |
| 2017/18 | 65 | C (28.7) | -0.08 |
| 2016/17 | 69 | C- (25.4) | -0.11 |
| 2015/16 | 84 | C- (27.2) | 0.00 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 50 | +5.9 |
| Further and other education | 3.4 | −5 |
| Further education | 1.7 | −5.1 |
| Other education | 1.7 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.4 | −1.7 |
| Employment | 32.8 | +9.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.9 | −8.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | 0 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Thirsk School & Sixth Form College on 24 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 24 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Sept 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
64% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (174 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 64%
- Positive
- 52%
- Replies
- 174
- 17% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on 57 parents (33%) whose child was bullied
based on 57 parents (33%) with SEND