School Chooser

Thurlby Community Primary Academy

Primary · ages 4-11MixedAcademy213 pupilsBourneLincolnshire
School Chooser Score
64
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 39 to 82, so it could be “above”
Out of 100. Better than 85% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, June 2024
Reached the expected level at 1165%England 63%
Attendance96.4%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families25%About the same as most schools in England
PlacesFull213 pupils, 210 places
Pupils per teacher23.1School workforce census

Thurlby Community Primary Academy is a sponsored academy in Bourne for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 213 pupils, 3 more than it has places for. About 25 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 64 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 85% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.

Crown Lane, Thurlby, Bourne, PE10 0EZ01778 423311thurlby.lincs.sch.ukMrs Katherine Finch headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 25 June 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

31 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1165%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level6%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score105.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 63%63%20172018: 53%53%20182019: 42%42%20192023: 63%63%20232024: 69%69%20242025: 65%65%2025
Since 2017: +2%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232019†2018†2017†LincolnshireEngland
Pupils tested313230333230
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths65%69%63%42%53%63%59%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths6%13%7%0%13%0%6%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0108.0106.0102.0105.0103.0104.5105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score105.0106.0105.0103.0104.0103.0103.5104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score109.0110.0106.0105.0104.0109.0103.9105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard87%81%83%64%75%73%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard81%84%80%70%63%70%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)68%81%73%42%78%77%
Reading progressReading progress score+1.6-0.3-1.7-3.1
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.2+0.8-1.8-2.8
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged86%43%50%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged58%76%67%

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 Thurlby Community Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
86%58%
Gap 28 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
56%77%
Gap 21 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%6%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Nearly full209 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
100% full

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 grown by 12% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (28 offers for 30 places).

EntryPlacesGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3028all offeredLA
2025 Primary3030LA
2024 Primary3024all offeredLA
2023 Primary3024all offeredLA
2022 Primary3022all offeredLA
2021 Primary3016all offeredLA
2020 Primary3017all offeredLA
2019 Primary3017all offeredLA

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.

Pupils on roll213Census January 2026
Places210101% full
Pupils from low-income families25%25% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English5%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support14%30 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan5%10 pupils with a plan
Average class size30.47 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils43%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)23%£74,400 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls112 / 101
White British pupils90%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 30.3 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 (8), Specific learning difficulty (8), Autistic spectrum disorder (5), Physical disability (5), language and communications needs (5), Moderate learning difficulty (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll213205203195180175
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals25%24%25%21%21%15%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language5%3%4%4%1%3%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support15%12%17%17%16%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans6%5%4%4%3%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance96.4%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school4.8%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils5.42024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence3.6%4.0%5.2%5.1%2.8%4.1%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.2%3.3%4.6%4.6%2.4%3.3%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.4%0.7%0.6%0.5%0.3%0.7%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence4.8%7.1%15.3%9.5%7.8%11.8%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate5.42.04.61.10.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

† These attendance figures are for Thurlby Community Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers9.2full-time equivalent, 14 people
Pupils per teacher23.1Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants7.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£47,360
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.62024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£5,980England £7,128. Total £1.2m
Income per pupil£6,907England £7,587. Total £1.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,332England £3,405
Money in reserve12%A healthy amount put by: £166k, £812 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£190kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£5,980spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m3812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate31 per 1,000 people66% lower than the England average
Typical house price£262,000South Kesteven
Nearest bus stop220 mCrown Lane, 2 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Bourne Elsea Park Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy1.3 miles273Good 202273Compare
Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy1.9 miles686Report card 202663Compare
Bourne Westfield Primary AcademyAcademy2.0 miles683No overall grade 202569Compare
Baston CE Primary SchoolChurch of England2.2 miles188No overall grade 202464Compare
Langtoft Primary SchoolCouncil3.3 miles188Good 202363Compare
The Edenham Church of England SchoolAcademy3.7 miles110Not inspected57Compare
The Morton Church of England (Controlled) Primary SchoolAcademy4.3 miles233Not inspected80Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Thurlby Community Primary Academy 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.

Beats85%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 64 is 29 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 36 · highest 89100

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 Thurlby Community Primary Academy, 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.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
The Morton Church of England (Controlled) Primary SchoolAcademy4.3 miles233Not inspected80Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 64 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 64% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 39 to 82. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
-0.01
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 31 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 2.2 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.01
DfE progress measure; 31 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.00
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.10
2024/25; 187 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.05
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 31 pupils
What parents say0%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 Thurlby Community Primary Academy a good school?

It is about average. Thurlby Community Primary Academy scores 64 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 85% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 39 to 82, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Thurlby Community Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Thurlby Community Primary Academy good at its last full inspection on 25 June 2024.

How good are Thurlby Community Primary Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 65% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 6% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Thurlby Community Primary Academy have?

213 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 101% full.

Is Thurlby Community Primary Academy oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Thurlby Community Primary Academy?

Pupils were in school 96.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 5% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Thurlby Community Primary Academy?

The average class had 30.4 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 43% 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
Crown Lane, Thurlby, Bourne, PE10 0EZ
Telephone
01778 423311
Website
www.thurlby.lincs.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Katherine Finch
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Keystone Academy Trust (7 schools)
Local authority
Lincolnshire
Ward
Dole Wood
Constituency
Rutland and Stamford
Setting
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 January 2020 (new provision)
URN
147153 · LAESTAB 9252069 · UKPRN 10084222
Formerly
Thurlby Community Primary School

Where these figures come from