Thornhill Primary School
Primary · Community school · Ages 4–11 · Shildon, County Durham
Last distance offered · Reception 2026
1.031 miles
Published by Durham County Council · offers on 16 April 2026
Thornhill Primary School is a primary school in Shildon, County Durham for ages 4–11 (community school). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Outstanding, from the inspection on 2 February 2023. County Durham has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2026 entry.
Thornhill Primary School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2026 | 1.031 mi |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In 2024/25, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), and 20% reached the higher standard (England 8%).
- In 2026 the last child offered a Reception place lived 1.031 miles away, the 3rd shortest of 20 County Durham primary schools with a published last distance (this one included).
- For Reception 2026 there were 32 first-choice applications for 30 offers; 30 offers went to first-choice families, and 2 first-choice families (6%) were not offered a place.
- 35.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals; the middle figure across the 8 nearest primary schools in County Durham is 50.2%.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other County Durham schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Thornhill Gardens, Shildon, DL4 1ES
- Type
- Community school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 4–11
- Council
- County Durham
- Pupils on roll
- 205 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 35.6% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.5
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Outstanding Inspected 2 February 2023
Strengths
- “In the school motto, ‘A promise for the future’, leaders set out their ambitious aim for pupils to leave Thornhill ready for the next chapter of their life.”
- “Leaders have very high expectations for all pupils both academically and socially, no matter what their background.”
- “Pupils blossom in this inspirational school.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 21 March 2023 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 93% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 32 first-preference applications, 30 offers in total, 30 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in County Durham.
- Timothy Hackworth Primary School 0.5 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- St John's Church of England Aided Primary School, Shildon 0.6 mi Good Last distance published
- Prince Bishops Community Primary School 0.9 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St Andrew's Academy 1.2 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Cockton Hill Infant School 1.5 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Cockton Hill Junior School 1.5 mi No Ofsted grade
- Woodhouse Primary Academy 1.6 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Bishop Auckland 1.7 mi Standards maintained Last distance published