St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham, Slattocks
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Slattocks, part of Cranmer Education Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 35th-highest of the 55 schools in Rochdale with published results, and 9,595th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Rochdale (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham in detail
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St. John’s CE Thornham. We are all very proud of our school. and I am extremely privileged to be the Headteacher here. Our children and staff are valued and celebrated as individuals who together make St John’s Thornham the special place it is."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics and drama.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £4.00 per session.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Rochdale
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Rochdale and 77% and 75% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham are St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale (0.9 miles, Good, 77% reading, 55% maths); Castleton Primary School (1.1 miles, Requires improvement, 74% reading, 84% maths); St Edward's Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 71% maths); and Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (1.3 miles).
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
St Gabriel's Roman Catholic Primary School, RochdaleCastleton Primary SchoolSt Edward's Church of England Primary SchoolHoly Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
The trust
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is one of 10 schools run by Cranmer Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
11.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (8%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Castleton (Manchester) Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
Suspensions and exclusions
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham are Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School (1.2 miles); St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy (1.4 miles); and St Anne's Church of England Academy (1.7 miles).
Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High SchoolSt Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary AcademySt Anne's Church of England Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in April 2024. Before that, as St John's VA Church of England Primary School, Thornham (URN 105806), it was rated Good in June 2014.
At a Glance
11.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
19.5
Avg class size
21.5
Infant (KS1)
15.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
Term dates
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Rochdale's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is in Rochdale; for families living there:
- Rochdale's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy
- How to apply: Apply for school travel expenses
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 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 St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
Will you get a place at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Rochdale, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham for 2025 and 2026 entry.
- How many families in Rochdale 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
101%
Over capacity
121 pupils
120 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Slattocks
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Slattocks
Across Rochdale council
Places available
3,242
Applications
2,831
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across Rochdale council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
23.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
117
Total Pupils
51
Boys
66
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
16.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,031
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,866
Per pupil
£782k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
6.4%
Persistent absence
94
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
Questions parents ask about St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham
What are SATs results like at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
Of the pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 63% did so in maths.
What is St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham's Ofsted rating?
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham has not been inspected by Ofsted since it took its current form in April 2024. Before that, as St John's VA Church of England Primary School, Thornham (URN 105806), it was rated Good in June 2014.
What is the catchment area for St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
No fixed boundary. When St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is oversubscribed, Rochdale allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
Classes at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham average 19.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham has around 117 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
4.3% of sessions were missed at St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham in 2024/25. 6.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
Apply through Rochdale's coordinated admissions process, naming St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham 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.
How many road collisions happen near St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Rochdale is 10 (the median across 106 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham?
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham is at St. John's CE Primary School, Thornham Lane, Slattocks, M24 2SB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)