Thornhill Primary School

School overview

Thornhill Primary School is a primary school serving Shildon, County Durham, classified by the DfE as a community school. It has 207 pupils aged 4 to 11 on roll. At its most recent graded inspection, Ofsted rated Thornhill Primary School 'Outstanding'. In the most recent Key Stage 2 SATs, 93% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the national average of 61%. Results have held broadly steady on the previous year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it among the top 4% of primary schools in England.

Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 108 in reading and 109 in maths (national averages are about 105 and 104). 20% reached the higher standard across all three subjects (around 8% do so nationally). Competition for places is real here - 94% of first-choice applicants were offered a Reception place for September 2026 (32 first choices for 30 places). The council's own allocation figures show the last child offered a place for 2026 lived 1.03 miles away in a straight line — that distance is not a fixed catchment and moves each year. Overall pupil absence was 6.3%. There are about 18.4 pupils per teacher. When comparing schools, it is still worth visiting in person to see whether the atmosphere and approach suit your child. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.