Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

Thurgoland Church of England Primary School has shown a solid performance overall, maintaining a 'Good' rating during its first inspection in 14 years under the current framework. The school fosters a supportive environment where pupils feel safe, valued, and enthusiastic about learning. Noteworthy strengths include a well-organized phonics program and a focus on personal development, ensuring that all students are encouraged to aim high. However, the extended period since the previous inspection raises questions about the continuity of educational practices and the impact of leadership changes since then.

Strengths

• Strong phonics teaching that helps pupils read quickly
• Enthusiastic pupils who participate actively in lessons
• Supportive relationships between staff and pupils
• Effective curriculum adaptations for pupils with SEND
• Opportunities for personal development through clubs and responsibilities
• A calm and orderly school environment
• Well-embedded school values foster a sense of community

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, knowledge mapping is not clear, impacting curriculum progression

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School attended 97.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School had 22.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.9% of pupils at Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School received £6,227 and spent £6,156 for each of its 202 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £54,000 (£268 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2022.

When was Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School was last inspected in September 2022.

How many pupils does Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School have?

Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School has 202 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School cover?

Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School?

Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is at Halifax Road, Thurgoland, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S35 7AL.