Welcome to Thornton Primary School

At Thornton Primary School, every child matters and every day counts. We want children to enjoy coming to school, feel that they belong and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our values of Love, Respect and Ambition underpin everything we do, and we have high expectations for every child, regardless of their starting point or individual needs.

We are proud to be an inclusive school with a strong commitment to supporting children with a wide range of needs. We have a high proportion of pupils with SEND and Pupil Premium, and we are committed to ensuring that every child receives the right support to remove barriers to learning and achieve their potential. Our approach combines high-quality, adaptive teaching with carefully targeted support, specialist expertise and strong relationships with children and families.

Our ambition is that, when children leave Thornton, they are confident, resilient and proud of who they are, equipped with the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes they need for the next stage of their education and for life beyond primary school. We want our children to be able to listen actively, show resilience, take pride in their work and feel confident to have a voice.

Every child and their learning genuinely matters to us. This commitment was recognised positively in our Ofsted inspection in February 2023, when the school was judged Good overall, with Outstanding Personal Development. We continue to build on these strengths. Our staff and governors share a clear ambition for Thornton and are committed to making our school the best possible place for children to learn, grow and belong.

We believe that excellent teaching is at the heart of this. We continually evaluate and develop our approach to teaching and learning, with a strong focus on inclusive practice, adaptive teaching and professional development. Our staff receive high-quality training and opportunities to work collaboratively, develop their expertise and share effective practice. This ensures that teaching is responsive to the needs of our pupils while maintaining high expectations for all.

Learning at Thornton extends well beyond the classroom. Our children benefit from a rich programme of sport, Forest School, creative and performing arts, computing, chess and a wide range of clubs and enrichment opportunities. These experiences help children to discover talents, develop confidence, learn to work with others and build the resilience and independence they need to thrive. Our Forest School is a particular strength, giving children regular opportunities to learn outdoors, develop practical skills and enjoy the many benefits of being active in the natural environment.

Since January 2019, we have also welcomed children from the age of three into our Pre-School provision. Our Pre-School children learn alongside our Reception pupils and benefit from the expertise of qualified teachers and experienced teaching assistants. For children who subsequently join Thornton for Reception, this provides a nurturing and familiar transition into school and helps them to settle quickly and confidently.

We hope that our website gives you a genuine sense of what makes Thornton Primary School special. You will find information about our curriculum, SEND provision, Forest School, enrichment opportunities, attendance, safeguarding and life at Thornton. We also regularly update our Facebook page so that families can see the many experiences, achievements and opportunities that our children enjoy throughout the year.

If you are considering Thornton Primary School for your child, we would be delighted to welcome you to visit us. Please contact our school office on 01253 921128 to arrange a visit. We would love to show you around our school, introduce you to our staff and children and share our vision for Thornton.

Love • Respect • Ambition

Mr David Ashcroft
Headteacher
Thornton Primary School
September 2026