SchoolScoresThornton Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Heys Street, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 4JP
01253 821128 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| 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
20 pupils in this year group.
45% — 15 points below the Lancashire average, and 17 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 45% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 20% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 70% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 65% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 55% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 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 Lancashire. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 19 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 27 |
| Of those, offered a place | 17 (63%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 64 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.4
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 a SEN unit with 8 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 33.1% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.1% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Lower than 0% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 29.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Lower than 2% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 14% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.6 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.9 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Thornton-Cleveleys. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.9%* | 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
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Thornton Cleveleys 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thornton Cleveleys Royles Brook Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), some aspects weaker 2024 · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thornton Cleveleys Baines Endowed Voluntary Controlled Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanah Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Northfold Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Anchorsholme Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thornton Cleveleys Manor Beach Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Carleton Green Community Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norbreck Primary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2025 · 47% 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 22 February 2023.
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%.
Is Thornton Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 27 families put Thornton Primary School as their first choice for 19 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 17 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 119148.
- 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.