St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury, Bristol
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bristol. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 104th-highest of the 198 schools in Bristol with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- 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
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury in detail
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 76% in South Gloucestershire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
For September 2026 entry, 16 families put St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury as their first choice and 48 named it as one of their preferences, for 17 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 Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury are Manorbrook Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 85% reading, 77% maths); Gillingstool Primary School (0.5 miles, 75% reading, 75% maths); Christ The King Catholic Primary School, Thornbury (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 61% maths); and Crossways Infant School (0.8 miles).
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Manorbrook Primary SchoolGillingstool Primary SchoolChrist The King Catholic Primary School, ThornburyCrossways Infant School
What parents say
70 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 48% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (48%).
Who goes there
11.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 18 pupils (9.1%) received SEN support and 4 (2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stokefield Close (nw-bound), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 56 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in South Gloucestershire (116).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury are The Castle School (0.3 miles) and Marlwood School (1.4 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Mary's has created a warm, caring community where children feel happy and safe. The school is committed to living out its Christian values, with pupils having real opportunities to contribute to their local and global communities through activities like singing at care homes and raising donations for schools in Africa. Parents appreciate the school's distinctive ethos and strong behaviour expectations.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are happy, safe and have warm relationships with staff and each other
- Behaviour is good with rarely any disruption in lessons
- The school has a strong, distinctive ethos based on Christian values like justice, peace and hope
- Good attendance and punctuality
- Effective personal, social and health education programme
Areas for Improvement
- Reception Year curriculum does not build on children's starting points, hindering their progress
- Early reading plan is not implemented effectively, leaving some pupils behind
- Assessment is not used well enough to identify gaps and misconceptions in pupils' learning
- Some pupils, particularly in writing, have gaps in their knowledge
- Governors have not provided enough challenge and oversight of school effectiveness
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school creates a positive culture around pupil safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Junior leadership team, science fairs, creative arts fairs, community service projects (singing at elderly care home, fundraising for African school)
St Mary's Church of England Primary School in Thornbury is a happy and safe school where pupils behave well and have positive relationships with staff and each other. However, the quality of education requires improvement, particularly in early reading, writing, and the Reception Year curriculum.
At a Glance
11.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
70 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 83% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 83% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 37% to 42% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.6
Avg class size
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury.
- TS Holiday CampsAt the school · Not yet graded
- Manorbrook Out of School Club720m away · Not yet graded
- Future Stars Coaching at Manorbrook Primary School720m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Church of England 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
Will you get a place at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's Church of England 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 St Mary's Church of England 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
94%
Near capacity
198 pupils
210 places
12 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
11.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
197
Total Pupils
107
Boys
90
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
15.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,023
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,292
Per pupil
£1162k
Total funding
£29k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.5%
Persistent absence
181
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
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury
What are SATs results like at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
Of the pupils at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's Church of England 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
Classes at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury average 27.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury has around 197 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
5% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury in 2024/25. 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
Apply through South Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's Church of England 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: TS Holiday Camps (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 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 St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury?
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Thornbury is at Church Road, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)