Thetford Grammar School
Thetford Grammar School
Org 1: The Society of Heads
Bridge Street, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 3AF
Telephone: 01842 752840
Age Range: Nursery, Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 11, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only, Full Boarding, Flexi/Occasional Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, AS Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Local resident bursary, HM forces discount, Sibling discount
Pathway Scholarships – Sixth Form
The Board of Thetford Grammar School is very proud of our school’s long, continuous history of helping pupils achieve excellent A Level grades and secure extremely competitive places to study at the best universities in the UK. We are able to offer a sustained programme of scholarships for our Sixth Form designed to open access to bright, hard-working young people from the local area.
These places will be awarded through an exam and interview process, with successful applicants being offered substantial awards of up to 90% of tuition costs for exceptional candidates.
This will be the most extensive effort to provide a Grammar School education to local Sixth Form pupils since the school left the state sector in 1981, nearly forty years ago.
Our Pathways programme recognises that Thetford Grammar School delivers Sixth Form pupils to outstanding destinations, both in universities attended and careers undertaken. Our Sixth Form experience mirrors this, helping pupils understand how subjects studied open doors to particular universities, faculties, qualifications and even the professions yet to come.
Thetford Grammar School is a co-educational independent boarding school that teaches pupils aged 3–19. We are one of the oldest schools in the country and have been educating young people since the 7th century. Our pupils benefit from an academically robust, yet rounded education that includes a range of extracurricular activities and a strong pastoral system. We understand that children learn best when they are relaxed and at ease and our school is very much focused on providing an environment that encourages this. Children flourish at Thetford Grammar School because they feel safe and supported.
Buildings and situation. Situated close to the centre of Thetford, the school occupies a well-established site graced by several buildings of architectural interest and the ruins of a medieval priory. There are extensive playing fields with a refurbished pavilion within walking distance of the main buildings, as well as an award-winning Sixth Form Centre built around the original Cloisters.
Organisation. Prep Department pupils (ages 3–11) are taught in their own premises with independent facilities. Older Prep pupils have contact with specialist teachers in several subject areas and benefit from similar integration into many other aspects of school life. Main School education from 11 follows a two-form entry pattern in core subjects to GCSE. Sixth Form students play a full part in the life of the school.
Curriculum. Prep Department teaching follows National Curriculum lines with strong emphasis on the English/Mathematics core, with the other curriculum subjects taught as part of the Exploration Curriculum, a project-based learning style of teaching. Music, Art and Modern Foreign Languages are taught by subject specialists, while a full programme of PE and Games allows for the development of team sports and individual fitness.
Main School education through to GCSE is based on a common core of English, English Literature, Mathematics, a Modern Language (French, Spanish or German) and the Sciences. Options allow students to develop skills and interests in History, Geography, RS, Business Studies, Languages, the Expressive Arts, Physical Education and Technology. IT is strongly represented across the curriculum. AS and A2 courses are offered in all these subjects. Mathematics and Science lead a strong pattern of results at this level and Sixth Form students proceed to university degree courses.
Sport and extracurricular activities. The life of the school extends widely from the classroom into sport, community service, dramatic and musical presentation.
Winter sports are Rugby, Football, Hockey, Netball and Cross-Country with Cricket, Tennis, Rounders and Athletics in the Summer. Popular indoor sports such as Basketball, Aerobics, Badminton, Volleyball and Gymnastics are also followed. Sixth Form students are able to enrol in the local gym which is situated opposite the school.
A majority of pupils take part in training for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. A lively concert programme supports individual instrumental tuition and choral rehearsal, while opportunities for theatre are provided termly by House and School productions.
There is a varied programme of curricular and extracurricular clubs and trips including expeditions and foreign visits.
Admission. Admission into the Prep Department follows a day in school with the appropriate year group during which an assessment is made. Admission into Main School is by formal examination with interview and school report. Sixth Form entrance is on the basis of interview and school report, with subsequent performance at GCSE taken into consideration. The main Entrance Examination is held in January but supplementary testing continues throughout the year. Full details from the Admissions Officer, admissions@thetgram.norfolk.sch.uk. Fees per term (2024-2025). Prep Department: Reception–Year 2 £3,325, Years 3–6 £4,725; Main School: £5,500, including books and tuition but excluding uniform, lunches, transport, examination entry fees and some specialised teaching such as instrumental music lessons. Nursery funding of 15 hrs per week is available and there are fee awards for Service families across the school. Sibling discount is applicable when a family has 2 or more children in the school at any one time from Reception year upwards and where the family is not in receipt of a bursary or other remission assistance. Fees are subject to an annual fee increase.
Scholarships and bursaries. Bursaries can be available from Year 3 upwards. Scholarships of an honorary nature may be awarded to the top performers in the entrance examinations. Academic Scholarships are available in Year 3, Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form. Art, Music, Drama and Sport are also available in Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form for both internal and external candidates. Pathways Scholarships are available on entry into Year 12. Details of all awards may be obtained from the Head.
Governors & Staff:
Head: Mrs A Faye, BSc, PGCE
Deputy Head: Mr M Glassbrook, BSc Northumbria, PGCE
Head of Preparatory Department: Mrs H Butler-Hand, BA, MEd Cantab
Head of Sixth Form: Mrs K Clark, BSc Kent, PGCE
Deputy Head of Sixth Form: Mrs T Beukes, BSc Stellenbosch SA
Academic Staff:
Mrs A Alecock, BA Manchester
Mrs L Arbuthnot, BA University of the Arts Norwich
Miss E Bell, PGCE
Mrs T Beukes, BSc Stellenbosch SA
Mrs M Blanco, BA Exeter
Miss R Callaghan, BA Hons Newcastle
Mr T Casemore, BA Hons Middlesex
Mrs S Collins
Mrs R Dimminger, Dip Ed Bulawayo
Mr B Doyle, PGCE
Mrs A Glassbrook, BA Hons Sheffield
Mrs T E Granger, BSc Wolverhampton, PGCE
Miss C Griffiths, BA LCC, PGCE
Mr M Hill, BA Bedfordshire
Dr C Kingsnorth, BSc University of London
Mr D Mitchell, BA Hons Liverpool
Miss N Nunn, BA Lincoln
Mrs N Peace, BA Hons Hull
Mrs H Pringle, BA Teesside Polytechnic
Mr Jake Reed, BSc University of West London
Mr E Rose, BSc Maths, PGCE University of East Anglia
Mrs C Salt, BEd Exeter
Mrs D Skeels, BEd Nottingham Trent
Mr J Snipe, BSc Bristol, PGCE
Mr Mark Staples, BA University of Wales
Miss Terri Tighe, BA Open
Miss Z Venables, BA Anglia Ruskin, PGCE
Mr A Walker, MA Oxford
Mrs P Weyers, MMus Wales, PGCE
Mrs Lucy Wilding, BA St Mark & St John
LAMDA:
Mrs S Cornell, BA Hons UEA
Teaching Assistants:
Mrs Z Corcoran
Mr J Dunn
Mrs K Hill
Ms M Kheder
Mr H Moody
Ms S Northmore
Mrs L Steeds
Mr Jesse Tierney
Miss S Wookey
Learning Support:
Mrs K Jones, BSc QTS, Dip SpLD, AMBDA, SpLD APC Patoss
Visiting Music Staff:
Mrs S Brotherhood (Woodwind)
Mrs K Thomas (Piano and Singing)
Administrative Staff:
Miss C Addinall (Admissions Officer)
Mrs L Collings (Marketing Officer)
Mr M Glassbrook (Examinations Officer)
Miss P Hall (Receptionist)
Mrs C Huggins (Accounts Secretary)
Mr A Koch (Accounts Assistant)
Mrs C Reynolds (Office Manager/HR Admin)
Mrs J Settle (Librarian)
Mrs H Stocks (Receptionist)
Technicians:
Mr B Cockett
Mrs T Evans
Mr A Gatward
Maintenance and Compliance:
Mr D Ford
Mr R Gray
Mr M Mosby
Mr M Reynolds
School Nurse:
Mrs J Theobald