Thornton Primary School

Thornton Primary School is performing well overall, with an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school has not been previously inspected under section 5, and since its conversion to an academy in February 2017, it has seen a positive development in its curriculum and teaching practices. The quality of education, alongside the support and passion shown by staff, fosters a vibrant learning environment where pupils display enthusiasm and engage effectively in lessons. However, there remain challenges, particularly in the consistency of curriculum planning for mathematics and writing, especially for the most able pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils have a strong love for reading and are well supported in their phonics.
• Teachers deliver engaging and interesting lessons that motivate pupils.
• Pupils achieve well in reading, history, and science.
• The school effectively supports disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour and attitudes.

Areas for Improvement

• Historical weaknesses in mathematics curriculum planning have created gaps in understanding.
• Writing curriculum for younger pupils lacks ambition and does not adequately challenge the most able.
• Outdoor provision for the Reception classes is not effectively planned.
• Some groups of pupils have attendance rates lower than the national average.

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 Thornton Primary School attended 94.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.2% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Thornton 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 Thornton Primary School had 21.1 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, 11.1% of pupils at Thornton Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 11 pupils.

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 2024–25 Thornton Primary School received £6,838 and spent £6,492 for each of its 462 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £365,000 (£792 per pupil).

Across all 15 schools of Focus Academy Trust (Uk) Ltd, income was £7,160 and spending £6,808 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 Bradford · Bradford local authority: places and applications

Thornton Primary School is part of Focus Academy Trust (Uk) Ltd, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Shibden Head Primary Academy Bradford
• Wilsden Primary School Bradford
• Fieldhead Primary Academy Batley
• Birstall Primary Academy Batley
• Boothroyd Primary Academy Dewsbury
• Thornhill Junior and Infant School Dewsbury
• Deeplish Primary Academy Rochdale
• Roundthorn Primary Academy Oldham
• Coppice Primary Academy Oldham
• Freehold Community Academy Oldham

What is Thornton Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Thornton Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Thornton Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Thornton Primary School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Thornton Primary School have?

Thornton Primary School has 449 pupils on roll.

What age range does Thornton Primary School cover?

Thornton Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Thornton Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Thornton Primary School?

Thornton Primary School is at Thornton Road, Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD13 3NN.