Thornton Primary School, Birmingham
Thornton Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Birmingham. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 127th-highest of the 275 schools in Birmingham with published results, and 6,591st of 14,452 across England. For 2016 entry it had 2 first-choice applications for every place. It was 80% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- Demand
- 2 first choices per place
- Attendance
- Below England average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thornton Primary School in detail
Thornton Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Over the last few years we have totally overhauled the school environment including all the children's playgrounds, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and a fantastic outdoor classroom; installing new fencing around the school site to improve security; extended and improved the school reception; redeveloped and upgraded corridors and classrooms."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:15am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Thornton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Birmingham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 68% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Thornton Primary School
For September 2016 entry, 60 families put Thornton Primary School as their first choice and 195 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 2 first choices for every place. 30 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Thornton Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thornton Primary School are Sladefield Infant School (0.2 miles, Good); St Cuthbert's RC Junior and Infant (NC) School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 79% maths); Ward End Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 87% maths); and Alston Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 69% reading, 70% maths).
Thornton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Sladefield Infant SchoolSt Cuthbert's RC Junior and Infant (NC) SchoolWard End Primary SchoolAlston Primary School
Who goes there
61.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 93.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (73%), other ethnic groups (9%) and Black (6%).
In 2026, 59 pupils (12.5%) received SEN support and 3 (0.6%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stechford Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bankdale Road (after), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Thornton Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thornton Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Thornton Primary School are Washwood Heath Academy (0.4 miles); Saltley Academy (0.5 miles); Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East (0.6 miles); and Rockwood Academy (0.7 miles).
Washwood Heath AcademySaltley AcademyEden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham EastRockwood Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Thornton Primary is an inclusive school where children are happy and feel safe. Staff have high expectations for all pupils including those with additional needs, and this results in good behaviour and strong achievement in key areas like writing and maths. The school goes beyond academics to develop well-rounded children through enrichment activities, trips, and opportunities to take on responsibilities in the school and community.
Key Strengths
- Pupils reach high standards in writing and mathematics
- Strong support for pupils with SEND through the 'Study Buddy' base and 'Chatterbox' room
- Excellent behaviour and pupil pride in their work
- Wide range of enrichment activities and visits that extend learning
- Effective safeguarding arrangements with leaders knowing pupils well
Areas for Improvement
- Not all subjects have subject content carefully sequenced and broken down into small steps
- Assessment in some subjects is not sharp enough to check what pupils have learned
- Some pupils learning to read are not making rapid enough progress to catch up with peers
- Leaders need to make stronger checks on phonics teaching for early readers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - leaders prioritise safety, know pupils well, report concerns promptly, and involve external agencies when necessary.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, games club, art club, school councillors, eco-councillors, junior police community support officers (PCSO) scheme
Thornton Primary School continues to be a good school. It is an inclusive and welcoming place where pupils enjoy coming to school, behave well, and achieve good results in writing and mathematics.
At a Glance
61.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
29.9
KS2
8
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Thornton Primary School
Before and after school care
Thornton Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Birmingham
Term dates
Thornton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Birmingham. 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 Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thornton Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thornton Primary School is in Birmingham; for families living there:
- How to apply: Travel passes for 5 to 16 year olds
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 83
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 20
- Children hurt
- 20
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 83 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 20 serious and 62 slight.
20 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 10 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 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 Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
478 pupils
600 places
122 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Birmingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Birmingham
Across Birmingham council
Places available
15,375
Applications
12,117
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Birmingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: 2 first choices per place
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
13.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
473
Total Pupils
240
Boys
233
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
18.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,870
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,854
Per pupil
£3305k
Total funding
£386k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.9%
Overall absence
18.9%
Persistent absence
498
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
Questions parents ask about Thornton Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thornton Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thornton Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Thornton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thornton Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Thornton Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thornton Primary School is oversubscribed, Birmingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thornton Primary School?
Thornton Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 600 places.
How big are the classes at Thornton Primary School?
Classes at Thornton Primary School average 29.9 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 Primary School?
Thornton Primary School has around 473 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thornton Primary School?
6.9% of sessions were missed at Thornton Primary School in 2024/25. 18.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thornton Primary School?
Apply through Birmingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Thornton Primary School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Thornton Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Thornton Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
What are Thornton Primary School's term dates?
Thornton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Birmingham. 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 Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Thornton Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 83 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 20 serious and 62 slight. 20 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 10 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Birmingham is 41 (the median across 517 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thornton Primary School?
Thornton Primary School is at Thornton Road, Ward End, Birmingham, West Midlands, B8 2LQ.
Sources: Birmingham term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)