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Secondary

Thornhill Academy

Sunderland, United Kingdom
18 Reviews
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Verified Parents
1.2 /5

18 reviews

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Extra Attention Recommended

This school is currently rated below 3 stars based on 18 published reviews. Several reviews raise serious concerns, so parents should carry out extra due diligence before considering it for their child.

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  • Speak to current parents and inspect recent complaint handling before enrolling.

Rating Breakdown

Based on published reviews
Safety & Security 1.9
Teaching Quality 1.9
Communication 2.1
Student Wellbeing 2.4
Facilities 2.5

Parent Survey

Official Ofsted Parent View data • 70 responses • 12.4% response rate

View on Ofsted

My child is happy at this school

95.7% positive 1.4% negative

My child feels safe at this school

97.2% positive 1.4% negative

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved

90% positive 1.4% negative

The school has high expectations for my child

94.3% positive 1.4% negative

My child does well at this school

97.2% positive 1.4% negative

I would recommend this school to another parent

Data from Ofsted Parent View as of September 2025. Based on 70 parent responses to the official Ofsted survey.

School Workforce

Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025

Note: These figures are estimated based on national averages. Actual school-level data not yet available.
17.0:1
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Excellent
33.2
Teachers (FTE)

Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.

Secondary School Results (Key Stage 4)

Exam performance data • 2023-2024

39.2
Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 subjects
-0.40
Progress 8
Below average
29.2%
English & Maths 9-5
Strong pass in both
48.6%
English & Maths 9-4
Standard pass in both

Additional Information

22.2% entered EBacc
11.1% achieved EBacc
144 pupils in cohort

Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables

Reviews 18

P
Parent
Parent May 22, 2025
1.0

"Worst school ever Don't go"

It is terrible school
I got food poisoning from their food
Students Rarely Get the help they need
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 4/5
P
Parent
Parent May 22, 2025
1.0

"Worst School ever"

Not a good experience wouldn’t advise people to send their children here. Teachers do not care and nobody cares what goes on around Thornhill
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 5/5
P
Parent
Parent May 22, 2025
1.0

"Bad school"

Shocking experience at school-teachers do not care.Would not advise sending your children here.Plenty of better schools
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 5/5
P
Parent
Parent May 5, 2025
1.0

"My experience"

My experience at Thornhill has been my worst nightmare imagine going to a school for literally 5 years and u don't feel safe like that's just a whole 5 years there have failed loads of time to deal with bullying,fight and harrasment instead they chose to be taking off (jewelry) and when they mean is anything around ur wrist is jewelry and they call themselves teacher am not trying to criticize anyone but it's so hard not to
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 2/5
P
Parent
Parent May 2, 2025
1.0

"THORNHILL BAD BAD BAD!!!"

Thornhill academy is a terrible school. My experience has been absolutely horrible. I would not recommend it to anyone that is going to join. They do nothing about bullying and racism they just turn a blind eye even when someone is unsafe or in danger. I would rate this rubbish school 0 stars if I could.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Feb 1, 2024
2.0

"THORNHILL LOVES THE ATTENTION!"

THORNHILL ONLY CARES ABOUT REPUTATION! This school hires people who couldn’t care less for the students and only “does” when ofsted comes around. And don get me started on the rasism! I am appuled about there behavier! PLEASE just read this and give it a thought about solving this problem!
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent May 8, 2023
1.0

"Thornhill reveiw"

The school does not care for anything but their reputation. They do not care about the students. I have seen for myself how they do nothing when they see a student getting picked on, they let student do whatever.
The school is careless with education. Students that have no clue of anything in lessons are put in the highest sets.

If you want a good education do not come to this school .
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent May 8, 2023
1.0

"No action towards bulling and prejudice "

The school never takes action,they only care about there freaking reputation of u have the right jumper no on rings e.t.c , we have had like 3 fights in the school , people continue to bully each other but when we report what they only do is shout at the bully’s or warn them, well that’s not gonna solve the problem
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent Jan 20, 2023
1.0

"Do not go to this place if you want to keep your kid bully free. "

Worst place to send your kid.
none of the teachers truly care about your well being they only care for the money they get. when you complain about getting bullied they act like they care but really they don't. they will pull you and the bullies and get you wrong and the bullies get off Scot free. this place is a nightmare and i hope it gets closed down for good and that area gets taken down.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Jan 16, 2023
1.0

"Avoid Thornhill Academy At All Costs! "

One star in my opinion is too many. This school is horrific! Doesn't care one bit about the pupils only about their paychecks...oh and how they look to Ofsted. They have the process down but actually following it is too much work and effort. We're not from this area and we've been treated abysmally. Teachers turn a blind eye to bullying but are on the ball when homework isn't done. Well done with your priorities. The reviews speak for themselves. Together for Children sends children here as a punishment not because they care or are interested in a child's wellbeing. This school allows bullying, anti social behaviour, assault, and every other form of hostility but you raise awareness to it and you're blacklisted...umm isn't that kind of backwards? What do I know? Where I'm from this kind of behaviour is reserved for what is seen on the telly not in real life.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Apr 22, 2022
3.0

"Take action!"

This school only cares about their reputation not the actual pupils. Children get away with fighting swilling racism and hate crime. They don't
take much action upon anything it's like no one cares about what they he students do, they can pretty much get away with anything.
Safety & Wellbeing 5/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent Mar 30, 2022
2.0

"Awful school system"

This school deals very poorly about it’s priorities. It cares more about what you’re wearing rather than your overall education and wellbeing. Its appalling that they care more about a water bottle on the desk than homophobia, racism, sexism and basic bullying. I want this school to listen to us students, we deserve to be heard and not to be challenged in such a way.
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 2/5
P
Parent
Parent Nov 30, 2021
1.0

"Horrible Students and Lazy Teachers"

vandalising and stealing property from kids with learning difficulties
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Dec 7, 2020
3.0

"Unnapropraite policies"

They do not follow every part of their policy
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 5/5
P
Parent
Parent Dec 5, 2020
2.0

"Absolutely ashamed"

This school only care about the reputation of the school not the actual pupils. Children get away with fighting swilling racism and hate crime. They don't do anything it's like no one cares for them anymore.
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Nov 24, 2020
2.0

"Not the best"

My current experience has not been good. I absolutely love some teachers, however. In a classroom, there are swastikas on a bookcase and the same teacher isn’t the nicest. Students get away with tons of things; like fighting, jumping, swilling people, swearing, making horrendous remarks about terrorist acts. These are only a hand full of things. Thornhill has to up its game
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 2/5
P
Parent
Parent Nov 14, 2020
2.0

"My current experience at Thornhill Academy"

My experience at Thornhill has been award winningly shocking.

They have repeatedly failed to handle various situations such as racism, verbal abuse and bullying not to mention the bias against some students as some are let off for swearing at teachers, walking out, lying about serious things etc. About 60% of the teachers actually care for the students and handle situation.
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent Sep 2, 2020
3.0

"My School experience"

5/10 but wouldn't recommend
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 1/5

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