Thomas Deacon Academy Review 2026: A large, all-through academy with standout facilities and a strong character programme

A Norman Foster designed building, a genuinely all-through structure (from Year 3 to Year 13), and a scale that feels closer to a small town than a typical school, define Thomas Deacon Academy. The campus is designed for volume and variety, with a lecture theatre and library integrated into the main concourse, plus a separate block that includes a theatre, sports hall and dining space.

Leadership sits within the Thomas Deacon Education Trust, and the current Principal is Mrs Emily Gaunt. The most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out on 12 and 13 November 2024, graded all key areas as Good, including sixth form provision, and confirmed safeguarding as effective.

Academically, the picture is mixed across phases. Year 6 outcomes sit close to England averages on the combined expected standard measure, while GCSE and A-level measures sit below many local and England comparators in the FindMySchool rankings. For families, the deciding factors often become fit, structure, and whether the school’s scale and enrichment pathways align with a child’s temperament and needs.

This is a school built around diversity, scale and a clear attempt to create belonging inside a very large intake. The latest inspection describes a welcoming environment where diversity is celebrated, supported by deliberate opportunities for pupils to learn about different beliefs and viewpoints. That matters in practice because large schools can become anonymous quickly; here, the intent is to make personal development and community participation part of the daily experience, not a bolt-on.

The character work is explicit. The school’s published values framework centres on the “six C’s”, commitment, compassion, courtesy, curiosity, confidence and courage, and this is reinforced through a dedicated character curriculum and enrichment leadership. For parents, the implication is straightforward: expectations are not limited to grades, and there is a consistent language used to describe behaviour, conduct, and personal growth.

There is also a strong physical identity. The campus includes a substantial concourse layout, with a lecture theatre at ground level and a library above, plus a distinct block housing a theatre, sports hall and dining provision. This is the sort of setting that can help students who are motivated by choice and facilities; it can feel less supportive for those who prefer a smaller, more intimate environment.

Because Thomas Deacon Academy is all-through, the most useful way to read outcomes is by phase, then by trend and fit.

Key Stage 2 (Year 6)

In 2024, 61.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 11.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%. Reading (103), mathematics (102) and grammar, punctuation and spelling (101) scaled scores sit above the typical England benchmark of 100, although science outcomes, at 61% meeting the expected standard, sit notably below the England average of 82%.

Ranked 12,963rd in England and 65th in Peterborough for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits below England average overall, within the bottom 40% of schools by this measure.

GCSE (Key Stage 4)

At GCSE, the 2024 Attainment 8 score is 39.6 and Progress 8 is -0.02, which indicates broadly average progress from starting points, marginally below the England centre point. EBacc entry and achievement indicators suggest a meaningful proportion are taking, and succeeding in, the academic core, with 60% achieving grade 5 or above across EBacc elements.

Ranked 3,389th in England and 18th in Peterborough for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits below England average overall on this combined measure.

A-level (Sixth Form)

At A-level in 2024, 1.29% of grades are A*, 10.08% are A, and 31.27% fall within A* to B. Compared with England averages (23.6% for A* to A and 47.2% for A* to B), these figures indicate a sixth form where outcomes are likely more variable by subject and student profile than in highly selective sixth forms.

Ranked 2,113th in England and 15th in Peterborough for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance again sits below England average by this measure.

What this means for families is that the school’s strengths are less about being a pure results leader, and more about offering breadth, facilities, structured personal development, and pathways that suit a wide range of learners.

The curriculum is designed to build from Year 3 through to Year 13, with a strong emphasis on sequencing, so that knowledge and skills are revisited and strengthened over time. The most recent inspection supports this picture, noting that work typically builds on what pupils know, and that teachers often use questioning to deepen understanding and promote debate.

The practical implication is a fairly traditional “learn it, practise it, apply it” approach in many subjects, with clear attention to literacy. Reading is described as a priority, with early identification for pupils who need additional support to become fluent.

A key area to watch is consistency. The same inspection identifies that, at times, teachers do not check pupils’ understanding reliably enough, and tasks do not always build effectively on prior knowledge. For parents, this is the sort of point to probe on a visit: how departments support less-confident learners, how homework and feedback work in practice, and how the school identifies gaps before they widen.

As an all-through school, progression happens at several points.

Year 6 to Year 7

For pupils in Year 6 at the junior phase of the academy, the school states that transfer into Year 7 happens automatically, and families only complete the local authority application if they want to be considered for a different school. The benefit is continuity and reduced transition anxiety for many children; the trade-off is that families need to be confident the senior phase is the right fit early, rather than assuming a later choice point.

Year 11 to Year 12

The sixth form offers a broad course menu, including subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Politics and Psychology, alongside applied options such as Cyber Security and Networks and Health and Social Care. Financial support is available through the 16 to 19 bursary fund, intended to reduce barriers such as essential equipment and travel costs.

After Year 13

Destination data for the 2023/24 cohort indicates that 63% progressed to university, 17% moved into employment, 3% started apprenticeships, and 1% progressed to further education.

For highly competitive university routes, Oxbridge activity exists but is small in scale. Across the measurement period, there were seven Cambridge applications, resulting in three offers and one confirmed acceptance. (Oxford figures are not recorded window.) For families, the implication is that the pathway is available for the right student, but the core offer is breadth and progression for a wide spectrum, rather than a specialist Oxbridge pipeline.

Admissions depend on entry point and are largely coordinated through Peterborough City Council for statutory school places.

Year 3 entry (Juniors)

Applications for Year 3 places for September 2026 open from midday on 12 September 2025, with the on-time deadline of 15 January 2026, and offers released on 16 April 2026. Demand data indicates oversubscription at the primary entry route, with 482 applications for 266 offers, or around 1.81 applications per place on this measure.

Year 7 entry (Secondary transfer)

For September 2026 entry, the first round ran from 12 September to 31 October 2025, and offers were issued on 02 March 2026 (National Offer Day). The council also notes a second round window between 01 November 2025 and 31 March 2026 for late applicants.

Sixth form entry

The school provides a dedicated September 2026 application route for external applicants and publishes a 2026/27 course offer document. Exact deadlines and offer dates are not consistently published in the same way as statutory entry points, so families should use the sixth form application materials and contact the school directly to confirm timeline and entry requirements.

For families comparing options, this is a good moment to use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to track deadlines, and the Map Search tool to sanity-check travel times against the daily routine.

The most recent inspection describes calm movement between lessons, clear expectations, and pupils who feel safe and confident that adults would help if concerns arise, alongside confirmation that safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school also places strong emphasis on personal development, with a structured programme that links values, enrichment and careers guidance.

Support systems include SEN and wellbeing structures described in the school’s published SEND information, which references targeted interventions and specific supports such as mentoring, literacy interventions, homework club and breakfast club among the options available for pupils who need them.

A realistic note, also raised in the inspection evidence, is that suspensions remain high, including repeat suspensions, and that strategies and reintegration support are not always as tailored as they need to be for some vulnerable pupils and those with SEND. Parents of children who may struggle with behaviour regulation or repeated sanctions should ask detailed questions about early intervention, alternative strategies, and reintegration planning.

At this scale, extracurricular provision tends to succeed when it is organised, visible, and linked to a coherent set of expectations. Thomas Deacon Academy appears to take that approach, tying enrichment to its character values and using flagship programmes to create identity.

Two whole-school anchors are the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Combined Cadet Force, both referenced as core ways pupils build confidence and service through structured challenge. These programmes tend to suit pupils who respond well to routine, progression, and externally recognised milestones.

Creative and practical options are also more specific than a generic “arts club” offer. In art and design areas, the school lists clubs such as Props Club, SEND Art and Craft, Printmaking, Photoshop, and Clay, with additional access to studios for GCSE and A-level coursework at points in the year. This is useful for students whose best work happens when they can iterate over time and get supervised access to specialist equipment.

Sport has both participation and pathway language. The PE department references over 20 enrichment activities over the year and describes competitive fixtures at scale. A distinctive example is the link to TDA Steelbacks, described as linked to Northamptonshire County Cricket, alongside wider school-club relationships intended to support students performing at district, county, regional or national level. The value here is range: pupils who want sport for enjoyment can participate, while more competitive athletes can pursue structured routes.

For the junior phase, the school highlights after-school and holiday opportunities targeted at widening access, including termly chances to learn an instrument (with one example being samba drum), plus holiday clubs and trips. For parents, the implication is that enrichment is not reserved for a small subset; it is intended to be part of the offer for many pupils.

Core daily hours published by the school list morning registration at 8.45am and the end of the learning day at 3.15pm, with the site open to students from 8.30am to 4.00pm. The school day structure matters because enrichment and intervention often sit around the edges; parents should ask how frequently after-school sessions run for their child’s year group.

Wraparound care details are not consistently set out in a single, parent-facing timetable. However, school SEND documentation references a breakfast club as one of the supports available. Families who need regular before-school or after-school supervision should confirm availability, eligibility, and days offered.

On transport, the setting is central Peterborough; many families will focus on walking routes, cycling, and bus links into the city centre, then match that to the 8.45am start and the practical realities of after-school commitments.

• Academic outcomes vary by phase. Year 6 outcomes sit close to England averages on the combined expected measure, while GCSE and A-level rankings sit below many local and England comparators on the FindMySchool measures. Families should ask how the school supports high prior attainers and those who need more structured scaffolding.

• Suspensions and reintegration. The most recent inspection notes that suspensions, including repeats, remain high, and support following reintegration is not always tailored well enough for some vulnerable pupils and those with SEND. This is an important line of enquiry for families concerned about behaviour management and inclusion.

• Communication expectations. The same inspection evidence indicates the school recognises a need to strengthen communication with parents, and that some parents want clearer routes to share views and engage. Families who value frequent, proactive communication should test how updates work in practice.

• A very large setting is not for every child. Facilities and breadth are real strengths, but some pupils thrive more readily in smaller schools where adult relationships are inherently tighter.

Thomas Deacon Academy is best understood as a high-capacity, all-through academy built around facilities, structured personal development, and breadth of opportunity. The latest inspection supports a positive picture on safety, behaviour in day-to-day routines, and a curriculum that is ambitious in intent. Outcomes are mixed across phases, so the strongest shortlist decisions usually come from fit: whether a child will benefit from the school’s scale, choice and enrichment pathways, and whether support systems match their needs.

Who it suits: families who value continuity from Year 3 to sixth form, want a wide menu of enrichment and practical facilities, and have a child likely to engage well in a large, structured environment.