What did Ofsted judge Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness as Requires improvement at its inspection in March 2024, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Thorns Collegiate Academy?

Thorns Collegiate Academy has 861 pupils on roll.

What ages does Thorns Collegiate Academy take?

Thorns Collegiate Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Thorns Collegiate Academy located?

Thorns Collegiate Academy is located in Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU, Dudley.

How do I apply to Thorns Collegiate Academy?

Thorns Collegiate Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How are Year 7 places decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy?

When Thorns Collegiate Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority will next be given to the siblings of pupils attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters; 3. Children of staff — Children of staff who has been employed at the school for a minimum of two years at the date of application or has been recruited to fill a vacant position at the school for which there is a demonstratable shortage, and 1 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary to determine which child is admitted, random allocation will be undertaken by the LA (or another body that is unconnected from the Academy Trust) as a tie break to decide who will be admitted. Random allocation will not be applied to multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) from the same family tied for the final place; we will admit them all and exceed the PAN.

What is the largest ethnic background at Thorns Collegiate Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.1% of pupils at Thorns Collegiate Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Thorns Collegiate Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How places are decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority will next be given to the siblings of pupils attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.
3Children of staff — Children of staff who has been employed at the school for a minimum of two years at the date of application or has been recruited to fill a vacant position at the school for which there is a demonstratable shortage.
4Distance - children living closest to the school — Priority will next be given to children living closest to the school. Distance is measured in a straight line from the child’s home to the school’s main entrance.

If two applications tie: If a tie-break is necessary to determine which child is admitted, random allocation will be undertaken by the LA (or another body that is unconnected from the Academy Trust) as a tie break to decide who will be admitted. Random allocation will not be applied to multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) from the same family tied for the final place; we will admit them all and exceed the PAN.

Document states PAN of 180 for entry in Year 7 from September 2026, but the document is labelled 2027/28 (TCA Admissions Policy Page 5, 2027/28) and cohort references 1st March 2027 offer date, indicating this policy applies to September 2027 entry despite the '2026' wording elsewhere. EHCP-naming children are admitted before oversubscription criteria are applied, per statutory duty, not ranked as a criterion. Transcribed from the school's own determined admission arrangements as published by Dudley MBC admission arrangements directory. Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted first; that is a statutory duty, not an oversubscription criterion.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Thorns Collegiate Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness as Requires improvement at its inspection in March 2024, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Thorns Collegiate Academy?: Thorns Collegiate Academy has 861 pupils on roll.
What ages does Thorns Collegiate Academy take?: Thorns Collegiate Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Thorns Collegiate Academy located?: Thorns Collegiate Academy is located in Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU, Dudley.
How do I apply to Thorns Collegiate Academy?: Thorns Collegiate Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy?: When Thorns Collegiate Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority will next be given to the siblings of pupils attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters; 3. Children of staff — Children of staff who has been employed at the school for a minimum of two years at the date of application or has been recruited to fill a vacant position at the school for which there is a demonstratable shortage, and 1 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary to determine which child is admitted, random allocation will be undertaken by the LA (or another body that is unconnected from the Academy Trust) as a tie break to decide who will be admitted. Random allocation will not be applied to multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) from the same family tied for the final place; we will admit them all and exceed the PAN.
What is the largest ethnic background at Thorns Collegiate Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.1% of pupils at Thorns Collegiate Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places are decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority will next be given to the siblings of pupils attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters.
3Children of staff — Children of staff who has been employed at the school for a minimum of two years at the date of application or has been recruited to fill a vacant position at the school for which there is a demonstratable shortage.
4Distance - children living closest to the school — Priority will next be given to children living closest to the school. Distance is measured in a straight line from the child’s home to the school’s main entrance.

Thorns Collegiate Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Thorns Collegiate Academy's overall effectiveness as Requires improvement at its inspection in March 2024, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Thorns Collegiate Academy?: Thorns Collegiate Academy has 861 pupils on roll.
What ages does Thorns Collegiate Academy take?: Thorns Collegiate Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Thorns Collegiate Academy located?: Thorns Collegiate Academy is located in Brierley Hill, DY5 2NU, Dudley.
How do I apply to Thorns Collegiate Academy?: Thorns Collegiate Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy?: When Thorns Collegiate Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A ‘looked after child’ or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority will next be given to the siblings of pupils attending the school at the time of admission. Sibling is defined in these arrangements as children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters; 3. Children of staff — Children of staff who has been employed at the school for a minimum of two years at the date of application or has been recruited to fill a vacant position at the school for which there is a demonstratable shortage, and 1 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary to determine which child is admitted, random allocation will be undertaken by the LA (or another body that is unconnected from the Academy Trust) as a tie break to decide who will be admitted. Random allocation will not be applied to multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) from the same family tied for the final place; we will admit them all and exceed the PAN.
What is the largest ethnic background at Thorns Collegiate Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 76.1% of pupils at Thorns Collegiate Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Thorns Collegiate Academy

How places are decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy

Thorns Collegiate Academy: key facts

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Thorns Collegiate Academy

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How places are decided at Thorns Collegiate Academy

Thorns Collegiate Academy: key facts

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