Thornton Dale CofE Primary School, Pickering
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Pickering, part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 79th-highest of the 236 schools in North Yorkshire with published results, and 5,071st of 14,452 across England. It was 73% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Yorkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School in detail
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (89% in reading, 78% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Thornton Dale CofE Primary School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thornton Dale CofE Primary School are Pickering Community Infant School (2 miles, Good); Pickering Community Junior School (2.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 63% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic voluntary academy (2.6 miles, Good, 58% reading, 75% maths).
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Pickering Community Infant SchoolPickering Community Junior SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic voluntary academy
The trust
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is one of 18 schools run by Elevate Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thornton Dale CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (96%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (81%).
Who goes there
10.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 35 pupils (24%) received SEN support and 5 (3.4%) 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
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Pickering (North Yorkshire Moors Railway), about 2.2 miles away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greengate Lane (adjacent), 260 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thornton Dale CofE Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2020. Before that, as Thornton Dale CofE (VC) Primary School (URN 121520), it was rated Inadequate in March 2019.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, inclusive school where every child is valued as an individual and encouraged to thrive. Staff are highly trained and nurturing, helping all pupils - including those with additional needs - to succeed and achieve well. The school provides rich experiences that help children understand and respect different faiths and communities, while developing into confident, empathetic young people.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional early years provision with high-quality learning through play and strong language development
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, with pupils showing remarkable empathy and respect for others
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs who achieve well
- Strong personal development programme including visits to different places of worship, community service and leadership opportunities
- High staff expertise and well-trained teams creating a warm, welcoming environment
Areas for Improvement
- A small number of pupils have gaps in phonics knowledge that are not identified and addressed quickly enough, limiting their reading confidence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits to mosques and synagogues, visits to local residential homes for elderly care, gymnastics lessons, pupil leadership roles, community environmental care projects, guided debates linked to academic learning
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is a happy, nurturing school where pupils embody strong values of kindness, friendship and respect. The school has made significant improvements since becoming an academy, with outstanding behaviour, personal development, leadership and early years provision.
At a Glance
10.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
47 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 89% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 78% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 81% to 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
25.3
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Thornton Dale CofE Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thornton Dale CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire 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
- 2
- 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, 2 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 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 Thornton Dale CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thornton Dale CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thornton Dale CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thornton Dale CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from North Yorkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School for 2021 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in North Yorkshire 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
73%
Available places
138 pupils
190 places
52 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Pickering
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Pickering
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,127
Applications
5,052
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
35
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
27.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
146
Total Pupils
77
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
14.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,588
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,350
Per pupil
£848k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
8.9%
Persistent absence
124
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Thornton Dale CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Thornton Dale CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2020. Before that, as Thornton Dale CofE (VC) Primary School (URN 121520), it was rated Inadequate in March 2019.
What is the catchment area for Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 73% of its 190 places.
How big are the classes at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Classes at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School average 24.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School has around 146 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Thornton Dale CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 8.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Thornton Dale CofE 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 Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
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, 2 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thornton Dale CofE Primary School?
Thornton Dale CofE Primary School is at Castle Close, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7TW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)