Thornden School

Thornden School is an exceptional school in which pupils achieve exceptionally well. In national tests and examinations such as GCSEs, pupils, including those who face additional barriers to learning, attain well beyond national averages. Lessons are purposeful and highly effective; pupils recognise the rapid progress they make and are exceptionally well prepared for their next steps. Attendance and behaviour are strong, with pupils enjoying school and attendance significantly above the national average. The school has successfully developed a highly respectful culture since the last inspection, and pupils are overwhelmingly positive about their school experiences.

Strengths

• Pupils' achievement is exceptional, with attainment well beyond national averages in GCSEs and other national tests.
• Pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, are exceptionally well prepared for their next steps.
• Teaching is highly effective, and lessons are purposeful, with precise adaptations for pupils with additional barriers to learning.
• Pupils develop oracy and vocabulary particularly well, communicating and expressing their ideas efficiently.
• Attendance is significantly higher than the national average, and pupils enjoy being at school.
• Behaviour is very good; pupils describe the school as kind, calm and collaborative.
• The school has a highly respectful culture where all members of the school community are valued.
• Inclusion is at the heart of the school, with effective systems ensuring pupils receive the support they need to thrive.
• Disadvantaged pupils often achieve better than the national average for non-disadvantaged pupils.
• Leadership and governance are strong, with leaders rapidly improving the school since the last inspection.
• Staff are highly positive about working at the school and value the shared high ambition leaders have for all pupils.
• The personal development curriculum is closely matched to pupils' needs and meets statutory requirements.
• Careers education is a strength, with pupils developing a detailed understanding of their potential next steps.
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open and positive culture of safeguarding.

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 Thornden School attended 94.7% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 11.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 3.4% of pupils at Thornden School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 Thornden School had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 6.7% of pupils at Thornden School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Thornden School received £10,351 and spent £10,375 for each of its 1,451 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,361,000 (£938 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Hisp Multi Academy Trust Ltd, income was £8,322 and spending £8,344 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Eastleigh · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

Thornden School is part of Hisp Multi Academy Trust Ltd, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Portswood Primary School Southampton
• Tanners Brook Primary School Southampton
• Danebury School Stockbridge
• Crofton School Fareham
• Medina College Newport
• Carisbrooke College Newport
• Highcliffe School Christchurch

What is Thornden School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thornden School is Strong standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Thornden School last inspected by Ofsted?

Thornden School was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Thornden School have?

Thornden School has 1,440 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thornden School cover?

Thornden School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Thornden School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 64.5, and 80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Thornden School?

Thornden School is at Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 2DW.