SchoolScoresThornton Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of FOCUS ACADEMY TRUST (UK) LTD
Thornton Road, Thornton, Bradford, BD13 3NN
01274 833839 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 January 2020.
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 | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 June 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
62 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bradford comparisons use the 55 of its 108 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 53 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 | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 38th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 88% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 38th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 31st highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied 12th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 51 parents who had raised a concern Joint 30th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 20% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 72% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 11th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 9% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 64% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 29th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 81% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). 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. Bradford figures pool parents at the Bradford 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
66 pupils in this year group.
45% — 15 points below the Bradford average, and 17 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 45% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 62% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 56% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 68% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 Bradford. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 57 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 51 |
| Of those, offered a place | 51 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 81 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 72nd highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.7% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 31st highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 63rd highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 14.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 101st highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 39.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 54th lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 42nd lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 16.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 62nd lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 66th lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 68th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 56% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.1 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 12th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 71% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.0 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 95th highest of 106 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 15.1%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Foxhill Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Keelham Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Academy At St James 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ley Top Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Russell Hall Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clayton St John CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beckfoot Allerton Primary School and Nursery 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clayton Village Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shibden Head Primary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thornton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thornton Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 January 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 June 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Thornton Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 45% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thornton Primary School?
81% of the 62 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Thornton Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thornton Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 51 families put Thornton Primary School as their first choice for 57 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 51 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 143944.
- 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.