Thornford CofE Primary School
Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, DT9 6QYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Thornford CofE Primary School is a primary school in Sherborne for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 179 schools in Dorset. It ranks 2nd of 6 primary schools in Sherborne. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 November 2024, report published 13 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 November 2024
The school's golden thread of 'treat others as you would like to be treated yourself' filters down from leaders to staff to pupils. This has created a culture of kindness and compassion. The school is warm and supportive where everyone feels welcome. As a result, pupils are happy and safe, and they attend very well. Pupils' behaviour is impeccable. Routines, including in the Reception Year, are quickly established and well embedded. Pupils show excellent attitudes to learning in the classroom. At social times, pupils of all ages play together harmoniously. They share equipment, organise games and make sure that everyone is included. The school has high expectations. Pupils regularly meet these. For example, in Year 1, pupils achieve well in the published phonics outcomes. In Year 6, national test results are typically above average. The school's work on pupils' personal development is exceptional. The way that the school teaches pupils about character helps them develop their resilience, confidence and curiosity. Pupils benefit greatly from an extensive range of sport, music, performance, outdoor education, trips and visits that support the planned curriculum and broaden pupils' cultural capital. Parents overwhelmingly recommend the school.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, the school's approach to assessment does not provide enough information about what pupils have learned and remembered. As a result, some pupils develop gaps in their knowledge. The school should modify its approach so that checks on pupils' learning more consistently inform future teaching and, therefore, reduce gaps in pupils' knowledge.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
15 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
104 pupils on roll, with places for 105
Schools near Thornford CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 44% met the expected standard |
| St Andrew's Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 31% met the expected standard |
| Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 48% met the expected standard |
| Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 9% met the expected standard |
| Pen Mill Infant and Nursery Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kirsty Blencowe
- Phone
- 01935872706
- Address
- Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, DT9 6QY
- Local authority
- Dorset
- URN
- 144415
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.