Thornton in Craven Community Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Cam Lane, Thornton-in-Craven, BD23 3SXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Thornton in Craven Community Primary School is a primary school in Thornton-in-Craven for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 376 schools in North Yorkshire. It ranks 85th of 232 primary schools in North Yorkshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2013.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 27 November 2013, report published 19 December 2013

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 November 2023

The school is a happy place with a strong sense of community and a 'family feel' to it. Pupils are kind and accepting of one another. Pupils and staff form warm relationships. A culture of inclusivity permeates this small, rural, community school. Parents of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) speak glowingly about the care and attention that pupils receive to help them thrive. Through the school motto, 'Working together for success', leaders have established high expectations across the school, and pupils rise to meet these. Pupils are happy, very well behaved and enthusiastic. High ambitions are realised through a broad and engaging curriculum, adapted to include everybody. Pupils enjoy learning and achieve well. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. All pupils and their needs are known well. Pupils are safe in school. Pupils have opportunities to participate in a range of interesting trips and visits. For example, pupils take part in local walks, residential trips, and visits to zoos and ambulance stations. They also enjoy the many after-school activities run by staff, such as dance, drama and various sports clubs.

What the school should improve

  • In the early years, staff are not clear enough about the most important knowledge that should be taught and checked. As a result, teachers do not always provide children with activities that match the intended curriculum. Leaders should strengthen the expertise of staff in the early years and ensure that the work teachers set is consistently aligned with the aspirations that the early years curriculum entails.
  • In some foundation subjects, such as art and design, the school's work to establish an effective approach to assessment is in the early stages of implementation. As a result, teachers do not know precisely what pupils need to learn and remember. The school should continue to strengthen the subject knowledge of teachers and assessment processes in those subjects so that the tasks and resources teachers use help them identify gaps in pupils' knowledge, including in key stage 2.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

13 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths85%

85%, 23 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

91 pupils on roll, with places for 77

Eligible for free school meals2.2%

2.2%, 24.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language0%

0%, 21.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support15.4%

15.4%, 0.6 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.2%

2.2%, 3.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Thornton in Craven Community Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Earby Springfield Primary School1 mileOfsted: Requires improvement67% met the expected standard
Coates Lane Primary School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good37% met the expected standard
St Joseph's Catholic primary School, a Voluntary Academy2 milesOfsted: Good60% met the expected standard
Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School2 milesOfsted: Good64% met the expected standard
Gisburn Road Community Primary School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding67% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Miss Suzie Brown
Address
Cam Lane, Thornton-in-Craven, BD23 3SX
Local authority
North Yorkshire
URN
121421

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.