Thornford CofE Primary School
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Thornford CofE Primary School is a converter academy in Sherborne for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 104 pupils and room for 105. About 8 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 59 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 42% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.
Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, DT9 6QY01935 872706thornford.dorset.sch.ukMrs Kirsty Blencowe headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 November 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
15 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017† | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 53% | 64% | 80% | 87% | 63% | 69% | 57% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 21% | 20% | 13% | 0% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 110.0 | 110.0 | 110.0 | 105.0 | 108.0 | 104.8 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 103.0 | 105.0 | 108.0 | 106.0 | 101.0 | 107.0 | 103.3 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 103.0 | 107.0 | 108.0 | 108.0 | 102.0 | 108.0 | 104.0 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 67% | 93% | 100% | 100% | 88% | 77% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 73% | 86% | 100% | 87% | 75% | 92% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 60% | 71% | 80% | 87% | 75% | 77% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +2.1 | +3.7 | +2.4 | +3.7 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +1.2 | +0.0 | -0.6 | +2.5 | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | 63% | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Thornford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, the school this one replaced in June 2017. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Dorset council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 21.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.5 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (6), Specific learning difficulty (4), language and communications needs (3), Moderate learning difficulty (2), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), Profound and multiple learning difficulty (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 104 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 8% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 2% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 15% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 7% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 4% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 2.0% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.0% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 3.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.7% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 3.4% | 5.8% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 5.4% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas | Academy | 1.3 miles | 90 | Report card 2026 | 8 | Compare |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School | Academy | 1.6 miles | 99 | Report card 2026 | 3 | Compare |
| Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School | Academy | 2.1 miles | 336 | Report card 2026 | 19 | Compare |
| Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School | Council | 2.7 miles | 58 | Requires improvement 2023 | 2 | Compare |
| Pen Mill Infant and Nursery Academy | Academy | 3.2 miles | 156 | Requires improvement 2022 | 0 | Compare |
| Reckleford Infant School and Nursery | Council | 3.2 miles | 128 | Good 2023 | 3 | Compare |
| St. Michael's Academy | Academy | 3.2 miles | 264 | Good 2019 | 72 | Compare |
| Trent Young's CofE Primary School | Academy | 3.4 miles | 143 | Not inspected | 90 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Thornford CofE Primary School with the 48 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Thornford CofE Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Sutton CofE Primary School | Church of England | 11.3 miles | 100 | Good 2024 | 73 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 59 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 59% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 27 to 84. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | +0.06 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 15 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | above | +0.16 | Ofsted grade, 1.8 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | +0.02 | DfE progress measure; 15 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.27 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well above | +0.12 | 2024/25; 89 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | +0.02 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 15 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Thornford CofE Primary School a good school?
It is about average. Thornford CofE Primary School scores 59 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 42% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 27 to 84, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
What is Thornford CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Thornford CofE Primary School not judged at its last full inspection on 26 November 2024.
How good are Thornford CofE Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 53% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 7% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Thornford CofE Primary School have?
104 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 105 places, so it is 99% full.
Is Thornford CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.
What is attendance like at Thornford CofE Primary School?
Pupils were in school 96.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 3% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Thornford CofE Primary School?
The average class had 26.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, DT9 6QY
- Telephone
- 01935 872706
- Website
- www.thornford.dorset.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kirsty Blencowe
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Salisbury
- Multi-academy trust
- Sherborne Area Schools' Trust (18 schools)
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Ward
- Sherborne Rural
- Constituency
- West Dorset
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 June 2017 (academy converter)
- URN
- 144415 · LAESTAB 8383367 · UKPRN 10063972
- Formerly
- Thornford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.