SchoolScoresSt Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Church Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HJ
01454 866760 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
70 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bristol comparisons use the 108 of its 220 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 112 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bristol | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 85th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 91st highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 79th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 77th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 19% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 41% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 56 parents who had raised a concern Joint 77th highest of 104 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 19% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 31st highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 17% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 71% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 85th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 35%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bristol figures pool parents at the Bristol schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
24 pupils in this year group.
38% — 26 points below the South Gloucestershire average, and 24 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | South Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 38% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 71% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 42% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in South Gloucestershire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 17 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 16 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 48 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | South Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 165th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 14.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 177th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 206th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 13.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 144th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 15.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 102nd lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 85th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 58% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 11.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 78th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 61% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 83rd lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 158th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 28% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.6 | 21.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 72nd highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 80% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.7 | 12.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 61st highest of 212 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 77% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 15.2%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Manorbrook Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gillingstool Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022, before conversion) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crossways Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- Crossways Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oldbury on Severn CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022
- St Helen's CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Olveston CofE Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 24 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury?
76% of the 70 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School, Thornbury as their first choice for 17 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 109263.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.