Community school · Central Bedfordshire

Thornhill Primary School

2–11Ages
516Pupils
PrimaryPhase
109504URN

Grove Road, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

close to Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

188 applications for 89 places · 39th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

68%met the expected standard

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 21 January 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Inspection history

21 January 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
27 November 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.1applications per place, Reception

close to Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

188 applications · 89 places offered · 93 named it first

2026 2.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
2025 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2023 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2021 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2020 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2019 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2018 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2017 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2016 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2015 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2014 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6

This school
Central Bedfordshire median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	89	188	2.1	93	1.04
Sep 2025	65	97	1.5	59	0.91
Sep 2024	61	101	1.7	52	0.85
Sep 2023	51	73	1.4	44	0.86
Sep 2022	37	60	1.6	36	0.97
Sep 2021	21	39	1.9	21	1.00
Sep 2020	25	44	1.8	24	0.96
Sep 2019	30	52	1.7	33	1.10
Sep 2018	30	54	1.8	38	1.27
Sep 2017	28	44	1.6	26	0.93
Sep 2016	24	35	1.5	24	1.00
Sep 2015	30	38	1.3	30	1.00
Sep 2014	22	35	1.6	21	0.95

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 78% · Writing 73% · Maths 85% → all three 68% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard68%8th of 36 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard78%

Central Bedfordshire 72% England 78%

Higher standard41%

Central Bedfordshire 29% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard73%

Central Bedfordshire 71% England 75%

Greater depth10%

Central Bedfordshire 0% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard85%

Central Bedfordshire 67% England 77%

Higher standard46%

Central Bedfordshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	68%	10%	106	107
2023/24	70%	10%	106	107
2022/23	73%	3%	106	106

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Thornhill Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Lime Tree Primary Academy
0.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024

1.6applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
St Vincent's Catholic Primary School
1.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

2.6applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Tithe Farm Primary School
1.1 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.1applications per place 41%met the SATs standard
Chalton Lower School
1.2 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.8applications per place
Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy
1.5 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
Houghton Regis Primary School
1.9 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place 36%met the SATs standard
Southfield Primary Academy
2.1 km · Luton

Good2023

2.1applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Chantry Primary Academy
2.1 km · Luton

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 79%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 109504 · 823/2166
Capacity: 660 pupils · 516 on roll
Free school meals: 17.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Grove Road, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PE
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources