Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation)

Thornsett Primary School is performing well, achieving a 'Good' overall effectiveness rating in its recent inspection. The school cultivates a positive and supportive environment where pupils feel proud and safe, actively engaging with a well-structured curriculum that meets diverse needs. It focuses on fostering values of respect and teamwork, and ensures that pupils are well-prepared for life beyond school through a broad range of educational and extracurricular activities. While there are notable strengths in early reading and overall pupil behavior, some concerns exist regarding the clarity and sequencing of the curriculum in certain subjects. Additionally, the leadership team displays ambition and commitment, emphasizing a cohesive approach among staff and governors. However, inconsistencies in subject leadership understanding and incomplete safeguarding records highlight areas for improvement. The school is dedicated to tracking pupil progress and enhancing its curriculum to ensure all students effectively master the necessary content.

Strengths

• Strong community feel with students valuing their school environment.
• Well-structured and engaging curriculum tailored to diverse pupil needs.
• Effective early reading program with logical progression in phonics.
• Strong emphasis on personal, social, and health education (PSHE).
• Ambitious leadership with a clear vision for student success.
• Commitment to providing a wide range of extracurricular activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent clarity in curriculum content across some subjects.
• Reading curriculum beyond early reading lacks full sequencing.
• Inconsistent understanding of subject leadership roles.
• Incomplete documentation in safeguarding records.

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 Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.7% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) 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 Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) had 14.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 36.9% of pupils at Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) 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 Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) received £9,768 and spent £9,805 for each of its 65 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £79,000 (£1,218 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in High Peak · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation)'s Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) last inspected by Ofsted?

Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) have?

Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) has 65 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) cover?

Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation)'s SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 38% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation)?

Thornsett Primary School (High Peak Federation) is at Aspenshaw Road, Birch Vale, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 1AT.