Thornhill Primary School, Shildon

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, cricket, gymnastics, basketball, dance, choir and art.

In 2025, 97% of Year 6 pupils at Thornhill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in County Durham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (97% in reading, 100% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Thornhill Primary School as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Thornhill Primary School are Timothy Hackworth Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 61% reading, 72% maths); St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 77% maths); Prince Bishops Community Primary School (0.9 miles); and St Andrew's Academy (1.2 miles, 65% reading, 77% maths).

Thornhill Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

35.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 44 pupils (21.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Thornhill Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Shildon Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (n-bound), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Thornhill Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 174 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Thornhill Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Thornhill Primary School are St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College (1.8 miles) and King James I Academy Bishop Auckland (1.9 miles).