Thornford CofE Primary School
Sherborne, DT9 6QY · Dorset · primary school
Check the area around this school
48th of 79 primary schools in Dorset we can score, 119 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,547 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.7/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 53.0 · 24 | 62% | 1.48 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 38% | 1.95 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thornford CofE Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0% of pupils, matching the national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.7 out of 10 among them, against 3.4 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the School Council, Monday Mile, Wake and Shake, and the KS2 Summer Play. Trips include visits to the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, Bristol, and a Year 6 residential trip. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 104 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the curriculum support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific support is available during the Year 6 residential trip?
What Ofsted said about Thornford CofE Primary School
Overview
The report describes a school where a “culture of kindness and compassion” ensures pupils are “happy and safe.” Leaders maintain “high expectations” that pupils “regularly meet,” supported by a “broad and balanced” curriculum. The inspection highlights exceptional personal development and impeccable behaviour, though it notes inconsistencies in how assessment data is used to inform teaching in some subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils display “impeccable” behaviour and “excellent attitudes to learning,” playing harmoniously and ensuring everyone is included.
- Personal development is “exceptional,” with pupils developing “resilience, confidence and curiosity” through extensive extracurricular opportunities.
- The curriculum is well-structured, particularly in reading, where staff ensure books “match their stage of learning” to foster accuracy and fluency.
- The school “quickly identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)” and adapts learning so they “achieve well.”
- Attendance is “high,” with the school actively intervening to support those whose attendance falls below expectations.
Areas to improve
- In a “minority of subjects,” checks on pupils’ understanding are not used to inform future learning, leading to “misconceptions or gaps in their knowledge.”
- The school must modify its assessment approach so that checks “more consistently inform future teaching” to reduce these knowledge gaps.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 80% |
| 2023/24 | 64% |
| 2024/25 | 53% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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