Thorn Grove Primary School, Bishop's Stortford
Thorn Grove Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bishop's Stortford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 22 schools in Bishop's Stortford with published results, and 6,591st of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- 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 Hertfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thorn Grove Primary School in detail
Thorn Grove Primary School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, dance, Lego, gardening and forest school.
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Thorn Grove Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Hertfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Thorn Grove Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Thorn Grove Primary School as their first choice and 77 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 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 Thorn Grove Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thorn Grove Primary School are Summercroft Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 81% maths); All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 77% maths); Thorley Hill Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 97% reading, 90% maths); and St Michael's Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths).
Thorn Grove Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Summercroft Primary SchoolAll Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's StortfordThorley Hill Primary SchoolSt Michael's Church of England Primary School
What parents say
57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thorn Grove Primary School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 44% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (44%).
Who goes there
26.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (61%), Mixed (8%) and Asian (7%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (11.7%) received SEN support and 6 (2.7%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bishop's Stortford Rail Station, about 620 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sports Club (opposite), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Thorn Grove Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 225 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thorn Grove Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Thorn Grove Primary School are The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College (0.3 miles), Hockerill Anglo-European College (0.5 miles), TLC Live Online School (0.5 miles) and Birchwood High School (0.8 miles).
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science CollegeHockerill Anglo-European CollegeTLC Live Online SchoolBirchwood High School
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils arrive at school happy and excited in the morning. They look forward eagerly to the learning challenges that their teachers have in store for them. Pupils learn an ambitious curriculum that is enriched by a wide variety of interesting extra-curricular experiences.
Pupils usually behave extremely well. They apply themselves to their learning, working hard and with enthusiasm. Pupils develop a good understanding of the subjects that they study. They often talk keenly and confidently about their learning.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school expects all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to achieve well. Everyone working at the school is dedicated to realising these aspirations. The school's curriculum is ambitious. It sets out clearly what pupils need to learn in each subject, at each stage of their education. The school has implemented new approaches to address gaps in pupils' learning. This has had a positive impact on pupils' achievement, especially in mathematics.
Teachers are knowledgeable about the subjects they teach. They explain concepts clearly, showing pupils precisely what they need to know and do in order to succeed. Staff seek to understand any barriers to learning that pupils may have. They regularly ask pupils questions and address any misconceptions quickly. Teachers make effective adaptations to the curriculum, particularly for pupils with SEND. Consequently, pupils achieve well across the curriculum. Pupils draw confidently on what they already know when learning new things. This deepens their understanding and allows them to talk confidently about their learning. However, pupils do not get enough opportunities to produce high-quality writing, and teachers' expectations about the quality of writing which pupils produce are not consistently high enough. At times and across the curriculum, pupils' writing lacks depth and thoroughness.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
18.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
57 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 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 45% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.8
Avg class size
28.3
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Thorn Grove Primary School
Spreading the joy of reading
1 Jun 2026
Best Ever Thornfest
9 May 2026
Bishop's Stortford Pupil Voice Network
30 Apr 2026
Eco Fair
27 Apr 2026
Rudolph Run
1 Dec 2025
Armistice Day
15 Nov 2025
From Thorn Grove Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Thorn Grove Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Thorn Grove Primary School.
- Barracudas - Bishops Stortford770m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Thorn Grove Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Hertfordshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thorn Grove Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thorn Grove Primary School is in Hertfordshire; for families living there:
- Hertfordshire's school travel policy: Read the home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 8 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 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 Thorn Grove Primary School
Will you get a place at Thorn Grove Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thorn Grove Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thorn Grove Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thorn Grove Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Hertfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thorn Grove Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Hertfordshire 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
99%
Near capacity
209 pupils
210 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bishop's Stortford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bishop's Stortford
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
14,776
Applications
12,543
Got 1st preference
89.1%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
14.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
223
Total Pupils
117
Boys
106
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
18.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,999
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,721
Per pupil
£1327k
Total funding
£59k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
13.8%
Persistent absence
188
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
Thorn Grove Primary School
Questions parents ask about Thorn Grove Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thorn Grove Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thorn Grove Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is Thorn Grove Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thorn Grove Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Thorn Grove Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thorn Grove Primary School is oversubscribed, Hertfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thorn Grove Primary School?
Thorn Grove Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Thorn Grove Primary School?
Classes at Thorn Grove Primary School average 26.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Thorn Grove Primary School?
Thorn Grove Primary School has around 223 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thorn Grove Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Thorn Grove Primary School in 2024/25. 13.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thorn Grove Primary School?
Apply through Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Thorn Grove 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.
Does Thorn Grove Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Thorn Grove Primary School: Barracudas - Bishops Stortford (770m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Thorn Grove Primary School's term dates?
Thorn Grove Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Hertfordshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Monday 24 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Thorn Grove Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 8 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 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 Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thorn Grove Primary School?
Thorn Grove Primary School is at Thorn Grove, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5LD.
Sources: Hertfordshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)