Thornton College, Milton Keynes
Thornton College is an independent school for girls aged 3 to 19 in Milton Keynes. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thornton College in detail
Thornton College in its own words
In its own words: "Thornton College is a leading independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3 - 19 years. It is one of the most successful non-selective schools in the UK and offers a warm and nurturing educational environment alongside a rigorous and exciting curriculum. Students receive an outstanding education and make excellent progress at Thornton College."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Thornton College is a community where girls thrive; where outstanding pastoral care and a wonderfully creative and broad curriculum and co-curriculum enables each girl to become the very best version of herself."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, cricket, ballet, drama, choir, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £12.25 per day.
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 7 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Buckinghamshire
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Thornton College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Thornton College are Akeley Wood Junior School (1.3 miles) and Akeley Wood Senior School (3.8 miles).
Where pupils go next
Of the 23 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 61% went on to university or other higher education and 17% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 30 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Thornton College.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
23 September 2025
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
13 September 2022
Regulatory Compliance
27 February 2019
Integrated
2 February 2016
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Thornton College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 1 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
Latest from Thornton College
Superb GCSE results!
20 Aug 2026
Excellent A Level Results for Sixth Formers!
13 Aug 2026
Careers in Healthcare
7 May 2026
Employability Skills Workshop
28 Apr 2026
Careers in Sports and Marketing
24 Apr 2026
PWC Careers Workshop
25 Mar 2026
From Thornton College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Thornton College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
54%
Available places
315 pupils
580 places
265 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Milton Keynes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Milton Keynes
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,847
Applications
6,535
Got 1st preference
76.7%
Got preferred school
93.9%
All secondary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
9.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
315
Total Pupils
0
Boys
315
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Thornton College
Questions parents ask about Thornton College
What are GCSE results like at Thornton College?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Thornton College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Thornton College last inspected?
Thornton College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
How many pupils go to Thornton College?
Thornton College has around 315 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Thornton College?
Thornton College is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Thornton College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thornton College?
Thornton College is at Convent of Jesus and Mary, Thornton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)