Thurston Community College

The Community College was founded in 1973, and was originally known as Thurston Upper School.{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.thurstoncollege.org.uk/docs/General/Ethos_values_and_history/History_3.pdf|access-date=4 January 2022|website=Thurston Community College}}

In 2023, the school was one of those identified as having buildings that could be structurally unsound because reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete had been used in their construction.{{cite news |last1=Duncan |first1=Pamela |last2=García |first2=Carmen Aguilar |title=Schools in England affected by Raac: the full government list |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/sep/06/schools-in-england-affected-by-raac-the-full-government-list |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=6 September 2023}}

In September 2014, the school underwent a large transition in order to become a secondary school and follow the two-tier education structure. Because of this, the Thurston Sixth Form Centre was relocated to Beyton, on the site of the former Beyton Middle School, and is now known as Thurston Sixth: Beyton Campus. This also meant that the most junior year group was lowered from Year 9 to Year 7. The old Sixth Form Centre, now a humanities department, was opened in 2002 by Rt Hon David Puttnam.

The school's facilities include a community library, a large sixth form centre (based in Beyton) and an Air Training Corps building. It has a total staff of around 170. In its most recent Ofsted inspection report in 2018, the school was rated Good.{{cite web|url=https://files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/2770733|title=Thurston Community College|date=May 2013|publisher=Ofsted|access-date=30 May 2013}} The school has been rated Good every inspection except for in 2010 when the school was rated outstanding.{{Cite web|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/124802|title=Thurston Community College|publisher=Ofsted|access-date=23 December 2018}}

A new external building was constructed in 2023, containing 3 social sciences classrooms and 2 science labs.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-19 |title=First look inside college's new building after £1.7m funding |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23796727.thurston-community-colleges-new-block-1-7m-funding/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=East Anglian Daily Times |language=en}}

Until 2020, the school was divided into five houses, each named after a notable British figure with connections to Suffolk. In 2020, the house system was discontinued and replaced by year group blocks.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-06 |title=Thurston College - Leadership Team |url=https://www.thurstoncollege.org.uk/Leadership-Team/ |access-date=2022-01-04 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506051311/https://www.thurstoncollege.org.uk/Leadership-Team/ |archive-date=6 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}

Students were assigned to a tutor group, which belonged to one of the houses. House assemblies were held regularly, and students could take part in inter-house competitions such as sports days. A House Council provided a platform for student representation, and each house was supported by a dedicated House Leader and Student Support Officer.

Each house had its own distinct identity, featuring a colour scheme, mascot, motto, and departmental associations within the school.

File:Thurston_Community_College_Planner_2016%E2%80%9317_%E2%80%93_House_System_Page.jpg

• Anderson – Named after Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Britain’s first female physician. Represented by the colour purple and the Anderson Anacondas, with the motto “We leave no one behind.” Anderson was associated with the Science department.

• Gainsborough – Named after the painter Thomas Gainsborough. Represented by the colour green and a phoenix mascot, with the motto “Strength and diversity.” Gainsborough included the Design Technology, Drama, and Art departments.

• Penrose – Named after mathematician Roger Penrose. Represented by the colour light blue and the Penrose Panthers. Its motto was “Penrose and proud.” Penrose covered the Mathematics and Music departments.

• Rendell – Named after author Ruth Rendell. Represented by the colour yellow and the Rendell Rhinos. Rendell included the English and Foreign Languages departments. Its official motto is currently unverified.

• Wolsey – Named after Thomas Wolsey, a key figure in the court of Henry VIII. Represented by the colour red and the Wolsey Wolves, with the motto “Courageous and determined.” Wolsey was based in a separate building—formerly the sixth form block—after the sixth form relocated to Beyton in 2014. This building also housed the school’s library and had its own sports hall used for assemblies, sports events, and results days. Wolsey included the History, Geography, Philosophy, and Religious Studies departments.

{{Incomplete list|date=January 2022}}

? - 2005 | Chris Bowler

2005 - 2021 | Helen Wilson

2021 - 2023 | Nicki Mattin (Formerly head teacher of Spires Academy, Canterbury).{{Cite web|last=Ghaemi|first=Mariam|date=2021-07-16|title=Retiring headteacher says she 'pretty much loved every minute'|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/education/thurston-community-college-principal-leaving-role-suffolk-8150174|access-date=2022-01-04|website=East Anglian Daily Times|language=en-UK}}

2023 - Present | Maéve Taylor{{Citation |title=Thurston Community College & Thurston Sixth {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/thurstoncollege/videos/last-daymp4/1595855894507724/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} (Interim principal from Claydon High School).

{{alumni|date=January 2022}}

• John-Henry Phillips FSA, award-winning author, Romani archaeologist, and television presenter.
• Joanne Jennings, represented Great Britain and England at high jump
• Kate Quilton, television presenter and journalist{{cite news| title=Food Unwrapped presenter Kate Quilton inspires students at her former school, Thurston Community College |work=East Anglian Daily Times| url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/food-unwrapped-presenter-kate-quilton-inspires-students-at-her-former-school-thurston-community-college-1-4248498 | date=26 September 2016|access-date=18 January 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604063501/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/food-unwrapped-presenter-kate-quilton-inspires-students-at-her-former-school-thurston-community-college-1-4248498|archive-date=4 June 2019}}
• Kate Smurthwaite, comedian
• Gary Stevens, footballer for Tottenham Hotspur FC
• Daniel Wakelin, palaeographist and academic[https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/content/professor-daniel-wakelin Daniel Wakelin]

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.thurstoncollege.org Thurston Community College website]
• [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/104711/thurston-community-college Thurston Community College description on The Good Schools Guide]

{{Schools in Suffolk}}

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Category:Community schools in Suffolk

Category:Secondary schools in Suffolk

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