SchoolScoresThornton Dale CofE Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Part of ELEVATE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Castle Close, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering, YO18 7TW
01751 474345 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 4 March 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 | Good |
| 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.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Pickering comparisons use the 4 of its 5 state primary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Pickering | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pickering. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pickering. Higher than 19% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pickering. Higher than 20% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 20th highest of 85 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire. Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | – | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 40 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pickering. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 82% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 10 parents of children with SEND 11th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in North Yorkshire. Higher than 43% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Pickering. Higher than 30% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 34%). 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. Pickering figures pool parents at the Pickering 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
16 pupils in this year group.
63% — 3 points above the North Yorkshire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | North Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 63% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 19% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 63% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 North Yorkshire. 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 | 20 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 19 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (95%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 40 |
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 | North Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 19.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.1% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 7.4%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Lower than 78% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 4.8%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Lower than 68% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 10.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 21% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.8 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 80% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.7 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Pickering. Higher than 49% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.9% | 14.5%* | 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
- Pickering Community Infant School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Pickering Community Junior School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic voluntary academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thornton Dale CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 4 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Thornton Dale CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
85% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Thornton Dale CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thornton Dale CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 19 families put Thornton Dale CofE Primary School as their first choice for 20 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 18 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 147763.
- 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.