SchoolScoresThornhill Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Thornhill Gardens, Shildon, DL4 1ES
01388 772906 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 2 February 2023.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
93% — 31 points above the County Durham average, and 31 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 93% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 20% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 97% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 97% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 100% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 104 | 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 County Durham. 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 67 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.9% | 35.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 18.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 5.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 13.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Lower than 40% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 9% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 15.5 | 20.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 27% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.4 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shildon. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 13.1%* | 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
- Timothy Hackworth Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Aided Primary School, Shildon 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Prince Bishops Community Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Andrew's Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cockton Hill Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cockton Hill Infant School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2024
- Woodhouse Primary Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Anne's CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Etherley Lane Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thornhill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thornhill Primary School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2023.
How did Thornhill Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 31 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Thornhill Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put Thornhill Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 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 114106.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.