Thompson Primary School, Thetford
Thompson Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Thetford, part of Co-Operative Education East. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 17 schools in Thetford with published results, and 1st of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thompson Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Thompson Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 54% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Thompson Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Thompson Primary School as their first choice and 25 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 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 Thompson Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thompson Primary School are Caston Church of England Primary Academy (2 miles, Good, 55% reading, 73% maths); Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School (2.5 miles, Good); Watton Junior School (2.7 miles, 49% reading, 44% maths); and Great Hockham Primary School and Nursery (2.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 76% maths).
Thompson Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Caston Church of England Primary AcademyWatton Westfield Infant and Nursery SchoolWatton Junior SchoolGreat Hockham Primary School and Nursery
The trust
Thompson Primary School is one of 3 schools run by Co-Operative Education East, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thompson Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Who goes there
8.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 14 pupils (15.1%) received SEN support and 2 (2.2%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Staffing
Thompson Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, anti-social behaviour and weapons possession. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
Thompson Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Thompson Primary School teaches reading, writing and mathematics well, and Reception children make a strong start to their education. The school creates a calm, positive environment where pupils are happy, well-behaved and supported to develop responsibility for one another. Parents are welcomed and involved in celebrating their children's achievements.
Key Strengths
- Reading, writing and mathematics are taught well with strong phonics instruction
- Early years provision is good with children making a strong start to their education
- Behaviour is good, the school is calm and focused, and pupils are polite and well-behaved
- The school has strong links with parents and good attendance
- Pupils learn about different cultures and environmental responsibility
Areas for Improvement
- Staff do not move pupils on quickly enough when they have already mastered learning
- Activities in foundation subjects do not help pupils understand and remember what they have been taught
- Pupils have gaps in their knowledge because the full curriculum has not been taught consistently
- Teaching quality is mixed across the wider curriculum beyond English and mathematics
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with clear systems in place and pupils having trusted adults they can talk to.
Extracurricular Activities
Gymnastics clubs, firefighter visitors, visitors talking about living in China, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs
Thompson Primary School is a small primary school where pupils are happy and well-behaved. However, the quality of education requires improvement, particularly in subjects beyond English and mathematics.
At a Glance
8.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 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 improved from 69% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 54% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 46% to 57% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Thompson Primary School
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thompson Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thompson Primary School is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 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 Thompson Primary School
Will you get a place at Thompson Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thompson Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thompson Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thompson Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thompson Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk 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
82%
Available places
86 pupils
105 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thetford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thetford
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
17.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
93
Total Pupils
47
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
13.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,050
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,595
Per pupil
£595k
Total funding
£15k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.9%
Overall absence
8.9%
Persistent absence
79
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Thompson Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thompson Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thompson Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 100% did so in maths.
What is Thompson Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thompson Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Thompson Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thompson Primary School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thompson Primary School?
Thompson Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 105 places.
How many pupils go to Thompson Primary School?
Thompson Primary School has around 93 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thompson Primary School?
3.9% of sessions were missed at Thompson Primary School in 2024/25. 8.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thompson Primary School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Thompson Primary School 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 Thompson Primary School?
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 Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thompson Primary School?
Thompson Primary School is at School Road, Thompson, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1PY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)