Schools by area › Highland › Thurso High School
Thurso High School
Secondary · Ages 11–18 · Council school
Ormlie Road, Thurso KW14 7DS · 01847 893822
On the mapSearch near KW14 7DS
Overview
- Leavers, 2024/25
- 95%
- in a positive destination · virtual comparator 96%, Scotland 96%
- Pupils
- 708
- September 2025 census
- Local authority
- Highland
- Departments
- Secondary
- Denomination
- Non-denominational
- Medium of education
- English medium, with a Gaelic medium stream
- Gaelic for learners
- Provided
- Taught as a subject
- Special unit
- Has an integrated special unit
- Teachers
- 57.4
- Full-time equivalent
- Pupils per teacher
- 12.3
- Additional support needs
- 283 pupils (40%)
- English as an additional language
- 9 pupils (1%)
- Taught in Gaelic
- 10 pupils (1%)
- Gaelic medium or learner
- Free school meals, P6 and older
- 10.6% (75 pupils)
From the Scottish Government’s school contact details, school level summary statistics and School Roll and Locations, and its leaver results (data.gov.scot).
Results
95% of the pupils who left Thurso High School in 2024/25 were in a positive destination (higher or further education, training, employment, voluntary work or an activity agreement), against 96% for its virtual comparator, a matched group of similar pupils from other schools and 96% across Scotland.
74% left with literacy and numeracy at SCQF level 5 or better (virtual comparator 69%).
Scotland’s own measures, not GCSE or A level results, and never set beside England’s. The virtual comparator is not a school.
Middle 60% attainment for all (tariff points)
| 2024/25 · 151 leavers | Trend | School | Scotland | Comparator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment for all (tariff points) | ||||
| ▼98 | 132 | 133 | ||
| ▼695 | 874 | 790 | ||
| ▼1,606 | 1,965 | 1,897 | ||
| Literacy and numeracy | ||||
| ●90% | 89% | 89% | ||
| ●93% | 93% | 93% | ||
| ▲95% | 91% | 91% | ||
| ▲74% | 70% | 69% | ||
| ●81% | 82% | 81% | ||
| ▲79% | 73% | 73% | ||
| Where leavers went | ||||
| ●95% | 96% | 96% | ||
Inspection
Education Scotland’s latest graded inspection on file (inspection, report published 20 March 2012) graded it 1 to 6 on each quality indicator: Improvements in performance 4 (good); Learners’ experiences 5 (very good); Meeting learning needs 4 (good); The curriculum 5 (very good); Improvement through self-evaluation 5 (very good).
- Report published
- 20 Mar 2012
- Inspection · Education Scotland
Quality indicators
| Improvements in performance | 4 · Good |
|---|---|
| Learners’ experiences | 5 · Very good |
| Meeting learning needs | 4 · Good |
| The curriculum | 5 · Very good |
| Improvement through self-evaluation | 5 · Very good |