Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury, Bristol
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bristol. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 155th-highest of the 198 schools in Bristol with published results, and 11,772nd of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to South Gloucestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury in detail
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury in its own words
In its own words: "Our School values have been created by the pupils, staff, families and Governors at Christ the King Catholic Primary School. Our values are at the heart of everything that we do and are reflected in all aspects of school life. Each term we focus on one of our 6 core values."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Christ the King School is a smaller than average sized primary school situated in the pleasant market town of Thornbury. The school was opened in 1969 when the town underwent large scale development. Our school has a 'family community' feel to it and has a distinctive Catholic identity."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, hockey, tennis and Lego.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury reached the expected standard in reading and 61% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 76% in South Gloucestershire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (70% in reading, 56% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury are Crossways Infant School (0.2 miles); Crossways Junior School (0.2 miles); Manorbrook Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 77% maths); and Gillingstool Primary School (0.5 miles, 75% reading, 75% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury.
Crossways Infant SchoolCrossways Junior SchoolManorbrook Primary SchoolGillingstool Primary School
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Easton Hill Road School (n-bound), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 63 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in South Gloucestershire (116).
Suspensions and exclusions
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury are The Castle School (0.5 miles) and Marlwood School (1.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Christ the King is a caring community where all children feel valued and safe. The school excels at teaching reading through consistent phonics and helps children develop confidence as readers. Teachers have high expectations and adapt learning to support all pupils, including those with additional needs, to succeed.
Key Strengths
- Strong reading programme with daily phonics teaching and well-matched books help pupils become confident, fluent readers
- Broad, ambitious curriculum designed to prepare pupils well for the next stage of learning
- Positive behaviour management approach creates respectful relationships and a harmonious school environment
- Well-developed personal development curriculum helps pupils become active, tolerant, respectful citizens
- Leaders have good understanding of safeguarding and work to support pupils and families facing challenges
Areas for Improvement
- Mathematical vocabulary is not taught in enough depth, meaning some pupils don't fully understand important mathematical concepts
- Early years provision lacks enough opportunities for pupils to practise mathematics
- A minority of pupils lack resilience and give up too easily when work is challenging, rather than persevering
- In some subjects, pupils' vocabulary is not developed effectively enough to deepen understanding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - leaders have established a strong culture of safety, staff receive regular training, concerns are quickly identified and acted on, and pupils feel safe at school.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, school clubs to enhance self-esteem and interests, fundraising activities
Christ the King Catholic Primary School is a happy, welcoming community where everyone is valued and high expectations help most pupils succeed in their learning. The school has been rated Good across all areas including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, leadership and early years provision.
At a Glance
17.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 56% to 61% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 52% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.0
Avg class size
26.0
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
6
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury.
- Manorbrook Out of School Club590m away · Not yet graded
- Future Stars Coaching at Manorbrook Primary School590m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury is in South Gloucestershire; for families living there:
Apply to South Gloucestershire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
Will you get a place at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from South Gloucestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in South Gloucestershire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
204 pupils
210 places
6 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bristol
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bristol
Across South Gloucestershire council
Places available
3,640
Applications
3,033
Got 1st preference
92.8%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across South Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
43
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
24.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
207
Total Pupils
101
Boys
106
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,502
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,261
Per pupil
£1215k
Total funding
£55k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
11.0%
Persistent absence
182
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
Questions parents ask about Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury
What are SATs results like at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Of the pupils at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 61% did so in maths.
What is Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury's Ofsted rating?
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2022.
What is the catchment area for Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
No fixed boundary. When Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury is oversubscribed, South Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Classes at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury average 29 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury has around 207 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
5% of sessions were missed at Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury in 2024/25. 11% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Apply through South Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury: Manorbrook Out of School Club (590m away, registered, not yet graded) and Future Stars Coaching at Manorbrook Primary School (590m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury?
Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury is at Easton Hill Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1AW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)