Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Haverhill
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Haverhill. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 10 schools in Haverhill with published results, and 423rd of 14,452 across England. It was 74% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 21 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School are New Cangle Community Primary School (3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 57% maths); Kedington Primary Academy (3.1 miles, Good, 94% reading, 94% maths); Westfield Primary Academy (3.2 miles, Good, 65% reading, 65% maths); and Place Farm Primary Academy (3.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 78% maths).
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
New Cangle Community Primary SchoolKedington Primary AcademyWestfield Primary AcademyPlace Farm Primary Academy
Who goes there
14.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 19 pupils (24.7%) received SEN support and 1 (1.3%) 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
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pound Green (w-bound), 210 metres away.
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 Suffolk (32).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 3.8 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; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
14.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
19.3
Avg class size
18.5
Infant (KS1)
20.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Term dates
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Suffolk. 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: 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 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 Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- 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, 1 serious and 0 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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 Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Suffolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Suffolk 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
74%
Available places
78 pupils
105 places
27 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Haverhill
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Haverhill
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,806
Applications
6,492
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
26.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
77
Total Pupils
40
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
19.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£38,883
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,213
Per pupil
£614k
Total funding
£18k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
11.3%
Persistent absence
71
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 91% did so in maths.
What is Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
What is the catchment area for Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 74% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 19.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 77 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 11.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Thurlow Voluntary Controlled 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.
What are Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School's term dates?
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Suffolk. 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: 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 Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
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, 1 serious and 0 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Thurlow Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at The Street, Little Thurlow, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7HY.
Sources: Suffolk term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)