Thurston Community College Prospectus 2026

Inspire
Empower
Achieve
Prospectus

Welcome
to Thurston Community College
#TeamTCC
We inspire...
Young people to achieve
their goals, with passionate
staff who provide an
exciting and challenging
learning environment. We
encourage all talents and
interests whatever they
may be.
We empower...
with knowledge, skills and
personalised learning. We
value the individual needs
of every young person,
providing a wide range of
support, curriculum and
experiences.
We achieve...
together, fostering
confidence, happiness
and maturity, promoting
an appetite for learning,
ambition for the future
and a passion for a
successful life ahead.
Welcome from our Principal
I am very proud to lead such an amazing community with
brilliant students and dedicated, passionate staff.
We want our students to excel and enjoy their time at school.
Our aspiration is that every student will be inspired by
learning, empowered to seize life’s opportunities and will
leave Thurston Community College as a happy, confident and
well-rounded young person, ready to make a full and positive
contribution to the society in which they live.
We aim to provide a curriculum that enriches our students’
lives through accessing knowledge and skills which will lead to
excellent academic outcomes and wider experiences. This will
ensure that all students are able to take their next chosen
steps in their education and employment with confidence.
We work hard to ensure that alongside our high academic
expectations, students are supported through a strong
pastoral care structure to ensure that every student feels safe
and cared for in our school, able to face the future with
confidence and high self-esteem.
Students are expected to work to the best of their ability, to
be warm, welcoming and friendly, and proud of the
contribution they can make to their school and community.
Our core values are for students to:
Progress
Make progress both academically and
personally.
Respect
Treat everyone within our community with
mutual respect.
Integrity
To do the right thing, even when no one is
watching.
To be the best they can be, even when
Determination
faced with challenges.
Empathy
Demonstrate kindness and support for each
other.
By choosing Thurston Community College you will be
embarking on a seven year journey. That journey begins at
our Thurston Campus, just outside Bury St Edmunds, where
students from Year 7 to Year 11 attend. The facilities are
excellent and provide opportunities for our students to
explore and excel in a wide variety of disciplines within the
curriculum and through a range of wider opportunities.
Year 12 and Year 13 students transfer to Thurston Sixth;
located nearby at the Beyton Campus, connected by regular
shuttle buses for the students to access both sites and with
staff working across the age range. The facilities available to
our Sixth Form are enviable, and we are able to offer a range
of courses tailored to meet the needs and interests of our
students.
I have recently been welcomed to the College and can assure
you of a warm and friendly welcome to both of our campuses
and invite you to come and experience that for yourselves.
Maéve Taylor

Inspire
Teaching
Success is nurtured in the classroom and inspiration
begins with the teacher. We recruit the very best
subject specialists and invest in our excellent teachers
and wider support staff teams by providing high
quality professional training and development
opportunities.
Our teachers inspire engagement for their subject
with their passion for learning. More importantly, they
inspire students to take risks in their learning, to
believe in themselves and to develop self-confidence
and to take ownership of their future. High
expectations, together with an ethos of trust and
respect, have created an effective learning
environment where all students are nurtured,
supported and challenged to become the very best
versions of themselves.
Facilities
Thurston Community College is rightly proud of its
extensive teaching accommodation and bespoke
learning environments. Students have access to
specialist learning resources with well-equipped
classrooms, practical areas and outdoor spaces.
Both campuses host libraries which contain a
wide collection of fiction and non-fiction to
support reading for pleasure and academic
study as well as access to information
technology, exam preparation resources and
information, advice and guidance on a range
of well-being topics. We employ two qualified
librarians to support, challenge and inspire
students on the Thurston Campus and those
attending Thurston Sixth.
Our unique, state of the art 350 seat auditorium
provides a stunning venue for our awardwinning
musicals, as well as accommodating
daily assemblies, lessons, visiting speakers, open
evening events and community use. In addition
we have an enviable Conference Centre on our
Sixth Form campus which hosts external speakers
and key events.
Our extensive sporting facilities include two large
sports halls, a gymnasium, a fitness suite, modern
changing facilities and specialist classrooms. The
grounds contain an all-weather multi- purpose
AstroTurf pitch, floodlit hard courts and an
expansive field area for rugby, football, cricket,
rounders and athletics and both campuses boast
outdoor spaces dedicated to student wellbeing.
“Having classrooms made for specific
subjects like Science makes lessons
interesting and fun. You can do so
much more with equipment like
Bunsen burners and test tubes!”
Ambition
We encourage every student to set high expectations
for themselves, supporting them to set their own goals,
inspired by the success of others within our College
community. This approach is apparent in many aspects
of our work. Sixth Form students provide peer
mentoring at the Thurston Campus, with many also
taking a prominent role in leading after-school
enrichment activities, thereby encouraging our younger
students to aspire to fulfil their dreams. Both inside and
outside of the classroom, we want every student to be
ambitious about what they can achieve.

“Thurston has built up my
confidence. I have achieved things I
never thought would be possible,
because I have been pushed out of
my comfort zone.”
Empower
Support
Empowering students to take charge of their learning
begins by investing in each individual. We are a
Community College by name and embrace that ethos
in our nature. Thurston Community College believes
that communities with good mental health will thrive
and be more resilient in the face of challenges.
Relationships will be stronger and more supportive,
and from this strength and support the most
productive learning will take place.
We have a large team of experienced and well qualified
staff who can offer specialist support to individual
students with specific needs. Academic mentors,
subject teachers and year teams, complemented by
specialist Mental Health staff and impartial Careers
Advisors contribute to a comprehensive and
personalised network of support which enables every
student to thrive here.
Leadership
At TCC, we really value students’ voices and believe that
giving students opportunities outside of the classroom
is vital to help develop the ‘whole child’. Our student
leadership structure gives all students the opportunity
to have a true voice, whether they are part of the core
student team or not. It is also a great opportunity for
students to build skills such as team work,
communication, leadership and organisation that will
help them not only when applying for their next
educational step, but also in life.
Our Student Leadership Team is made up of several
smaller teams that have specific roles. These include:
Junior Prefects, who are assigned to a Year 7 tutor
group and work closely with Year 7s to ensure that they
have a positive start to life at TCC; Wellbeing
Ambassadors; Student News Team; and our Senior
Prefects and Student Leadership Team. At Sixth Form,
our Student Union represent student voices.
Students are embedded in our decision-making
processes, enabling them to have a strong voice in all
aspects of our provision. Student interview panels play
an important role in staff recruitment and student
presentations are an integral part of our Open
Evenings and other community events.
Every student has the opportunity to be part of our
large and growing student leadership team and work
closely with staff to support our college and students
to be the best they can be.

Achieve
Excellent Work
At Thurston Community College we are very proud of
the academic accomplishments of our students.
At Key Stage 3, students make excellent progress in
English, Mathematics and Science, providing an
important foundation for success at Level 2 (GCSE and
equivalent) and Level 3 (Advanced Level and
equivalent).
At GCSE, our examination results across the breadth of
our curriculum, confirm that students consistently
make strong progress between the end of primary
school and Year 11.
At A level, student outcomes demonstrate that our
students make excellent progress between Year 11
and Year 13.
In addition, our students have opportunities to
achieve success in wider aspects of their learning,
including in sports teams, through Music, Dance and
Drama performances, in creative writing, speaking
competitions and in Creative Arts.
Destinations
We are a comprehensive school and are proud of our
inclusive ethos. As such we do our utmost to ensure
that each and every student is able to progress to a
meaningful destination when they leave Thurston
Community College.
Many students finishing their GCSEs choose to study A
Level and Equivalent Level 3 courses at Thurston Sixth.
In addition, we offer impartial advice regarding possible
next steps, which for some students may involve the
pursuit of apprenticeships or other employment with
training. Whatever their ambition, we support every
student to achieve their dream.
A consistently high percentage of our post-16 students
progress into further education, training,
apprenticeships or employment. Thurston Sixth is
equally successful in laying the foundations for a
prosperous future with approximately 80% of our
students progressing to higher education every year
including to prestigious Russell Group university
destinations.
“At Thurston, something I’ve found and
loved is that, whatever your ability, the
teachers are always encouraging and
pushing you to do that bit better and to
achieve that bit more than you are capable
of. Teachers also challenge and push able
students so you are always learning and
improving.”

Our College Day
“When I started at Thurston I knew
that one of my best friends from
primary got the same bus as I did.
The first time I got on I was greeted
by my friend who was just as excited
as I was! The first few trips were very
much the same–excited chatting on
the way, and brief recollections of
the various lessons and activities
done that day on the way home!”
Emma
“Tutor groups are fun, we all have a
good relationship and they all
support you through any tough
times. My form tutor has helped a
lot with my courage to talk to
people and through that I have
made friends in different years”
William
“When moving from lesson to
lesson there were bigger crowds
than we were used to and we have
all gone from being the oldest at
primary school to the youngest at
Thurston, but when we got lost,
asking someone where to go helped
us as people were always kind and
friendly”
Ellen
“The canteen provides delicious
food from bacon rolls and toast to
waffles and fruit. There is also a
good range of drinks”
Maddie
“At the start of the day students
have access to the main canteen to
get anything to eat, from Belgian
waffles to bowls of porridge.
Porridge is actually free for students
at Breakfast Club, so if someone
missed breakfast they can have a
free bowl which should be enough
to last them until break time when
they are able to buy other items”
Josephine
“Having longer lessons was different
but we soon got used to it. The
teachers really go into detail so it’s
good we have more time on each
topic”
Erin & David
“At break and lunchtime me and my
friends spend time on the field, if it’s cold,
there’s always somewhere to go inside”
Charlie
“There are loads of places around the
school, but mainly I go to the field or
netball courts to play football”
Harry
“I attend some after school clubs
and the experience is great because
you make new friends and learn
new things”
Beth
“There are many after school clubs
like: football, STEM, Performing Arts
and many more. You can even
audition for the performances!”
Finley

11
Our Community
Year Group Pastoral Care
Transition
Our year group system is at the heart of our school,
providing pastoral care and support and
empowering students to achieve their very best,
everyday. Each year group in the main college is led
by a Year Leader and supported by a team of Form
Tutors and Student Support Managers. Sixth
formers, in addition to their Head and Deputy Head
of Sixth Form, have an Academic Tutor for each year
group.
When students join us in Year 7 they are placed into
a tutor group, where they register every morning.
Their Form Tutor is their first point of contact every
day, providing bespoke care, support and guidance
for every student, empowering our young people
to be resilient and optimistic with all they face on a
day to day basis. Students follow a programme of
support including assemblies, wellbeing activities,
reading development and character development.
A bespoke programme of Personal, Social, Health
and Careers Education entitled “Life Skills” is
designed to enable our students to develop a range
of skills and grow into independent and successful
young people.
There is a real sense of community in the year
groups, including a healthy sense of competition
with weekly quizzes, year group charity events and
inter-year sports fixtures.As we re-introduce our
house system we expect this to be magnified. We
believe that celebrating success is vital and our
rewards system seeks to both motivate and reward
students for exemplary attitude, outstanding work,
excellent progress, acts of kindness and participation
beyond the expected.
At Thurston Community College, we
recognise the importance of a positive
transition experience for children as they
move from primary to secondary school.
Our aim is that students will feel both
reassured and excited about moving on to
the next stage of their education.
Our Transition Programme, led by the future
Head of Year, enables every child joining us to
benefit from a wide range of activities to build
confidence, resilience and security. We aim to offer
a range of different events and activities in
conjunction with our colleagues in our feeder primary
schools. The Transition Programme culminates in July
with two consecutive New Intake Days where students
meet their Tutor and Year Team and experience
Thurston lessons and routines.
Year 7 students join us from approximately 40 primary
schools each year and we know that our Transition
and Induction programme ensures that students mix
quickly, feel confident in navigating the school and get
to know our expectations of them from the start of
their time with us. They are ably looked after by
students from Years 8-13 who support this process as
part of our wider community process.
Partnership With Parents
We cherish the contribution of our families and place a
high value on their participation in everything we do. As
soon as a child is offered a place at Thurston Community
College, we invite all parents/carers to a Welcome Event
to provide initial information about our
opportunities, expectations and procedures. In July,
on the evenings of the New Intake Days, parents will
have the opportunity to meet their child’s Year Team,
Tutor and other key staff.

Our
Learning
Excellence
We want all of our students to aim high and to achieve
excellence in every respect. If you choose to send your
child to Thurston Community College, we will support
them to realise their aspirations, academically and in
their wider life. High achievement starts with high
expectations. Students are expected to attend school
every day, to wear their uniform correctly and with
pride and to display an exemplary attitude to learning
in all of their lessons. This attitude will ensure that each
child is ready to make the most of every learning
opportunity, thereby optimising their potential to
achieve excellent outcomes.
Opportunity
We have designed our school curriculum in a coherent
and systematic way to provide an intellectual challenge
to inspire all of our students. As a large school, we are
able to provide a broad and balanced range of courses
in line with the National Curriculum, which are
accessible to all and meet a wide range of interests. We
believe that the curriculum should include rich and
interesting experiences which help to make learning
engaging. For this reason, we ensure that our
curriculum includes an extensive range of visits,
speakers and collaboration with local and
national organisations and businesses.
We believe that at Key Stage 3, it is
important for all students to
experience wide learning
opportunities as a foundation
for success in later years.
“Our subjects are really broad
and varied and you don’t have
to stick to any set route. This sets
you up for the future – you have
so many choices!”
At Key Stage 4, we offer more than thirty different
courses and allow students to begin to specialise. This
means that students can pursue their individual interests
and talents and we can customise our study
programmes to meet the personal needs of your child, a
factor which contributes greatly to success. We
encourage students to maintain a broad and balanced
curriculum but we recognise that every student is
different and we help them to make good choices to
prepare them for post-16 education.
At Key Stage 5, Thurston Sixth provides over twenty five courses. On its own campus in
Beyton, Thurston Sixth has become a prominent sixth form provider in East Anglia.
With very high standards, outstanding support and fantastic facilities, Thurston Sixth
is an inclusive community and a wonderful stepping stone to university or higher
apprenticeships.

Our Enrichment
Student Charter
Our aim is to help students grow and achieve
personal, social and academic success, leaving
Thurston as confident and well-rounded young
people. We understand the importance of
education beyond the classroom, giving
students the opportunities to build skills such as
teamwork, communication and resilience, as well
as giving them life long memories.
At Thurston we have a Student Enrichment
Charter. A ‘bucket list’, as the students call it, of
opportunities and experiences they would like to
have before leaving Thurston Community
College. The Student Enrichment Charter was
developed with the Student Leadership Team
and our wider community, including parents/
carers and staff.
The bucket list is broken into 10 categories that
includes overnight experiences, representing the
College and visiting a city or place of significant
interest.
We aspire for all students to complete their
enrichment passport by the end of Year 11 and
feel that the 10 different categories will help our
students to develop into confident,
well rounded young
people, with
positive lasting memories. At Sixth Form an
ongoing programme of enrichment activities
continues to be available in a wide ranging
format of opportunities including work
experience, and overseas trips.
Clubs
The Student Charter includes extra curricular clubs;
beyond the classroom, opportunities for extracurricular
activities abound. Whether your child
enjoys Drama, Sport, Science, Music, outdoor
pursuits, community projects, business enterprise, or
simply wants to develop or master an interest or
hobby, our provision will encourage their passions
and broaden their horizons.
Activities take place daily at lunchtimes and afterschool
(complimentary late buses run three days
per week to facilitate travel arrangements). We
offer programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s
Awards Scheme, at both Bronze and Silver level, to
ensure that students are given diverse
opportunities to develop work-ready skills and to
increase their employment prospects.
Breakfast Club is available every morning from
7:30am and Homework Club runs daily from 3:25-
4:45pm; both are offered free of charge and do
not have to be booked in advance. At both clubs,
students have access to College facilities including
the internet and are supervised by qualified staff
who are often able to assist them with their
studies.
Competition
Our sports teams are highly successful, not only in
the trophies and titles they win, but also in the
quality of experiences provided for the amateur
and the elite to train together and to challenge
and support each other.
Our exceptional Performing Arts Team orchestrates
productions that rival the quality seen in the West
End. Students of all ages can take part and
develop skills in performing. In addition, students
can take a backstage role which also develops
important skills for the future. Our Tech Crew
provide quality lighting, sound and stage
management for productions, dance showcases
musical performances and more!
“Clubs at Thurston are fantastic!
There are so many to choose from! I
attend some after school clubs and
the experience is great because you
make new friends and learn new
things.”
“Thurston has amazing Performing
Arts facilities and to match that, it has
amazing teachers! This creates an allround
positive vibe between students
and teachers.”

Take a tour
of Thurston
Community
College
We hope that this information has
provided an insight into our learning
community. Much more information is
also available on our school website.
However, the best way to judge a school
is to see it first-hand.
We offer guided tours for parents/carers,
primary school students and other
secondary school aged students, who wish
to see the College in action, during a normal
working day at different points throughout
the year. Tours will last approximately 45-60
minutes and will be led a member of the
College Leadership Team. The tour will visit
a range of lessons to observe students from
different year groups at work in a variety of
subject areas during learning time. The visit
will also include an opportunity to see our
specialist facilities and social spaces and to
ask questions about our provision.
To see when tours are running, and to book,
please visit www.thurstoncollege.org/tours.
Alternatively, you can telephone the College
on 01359 230885. Places on each tour will
be limited and will be allocated on a firstcome-first-served
basis.
“I wake up looking forward to coming to Thurston,
it’s my home away from home – I’ve grown up here
over the years. I have been pushed, challenged and
taken out of my comfort zone, but I couldn’t be more
thankful for this, my grades have benefited as a
result. We are made up of so many small
communities, but we all come together to make up
Thurston Community College.”

Inspire Empower Achieve
““So much thought and planning has gone into the
transition process. It’s a huge jump from primary to
secondary school but I feel you made the whole
thing seamless. You definitely prepare students
with the skills they need, and as a parent, I felt well
informed throughout the whole process.”
Thurston Community College
Norton Road, Thurston, Suffolk, IP31 3PB
Phone: 01359 230885
Email: admin@thurstoncollege.org
www.thurstoncollege.org