Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Kent public Top 11% UK

Thornden Wood Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Nicky Murrell

corporate_fareEKC SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED

location_onHerne Bay, CT6 7RS

language Visit Website phone 1227373095

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

295

school

Expected Standard

81%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Thornden Wood Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Herne Bay, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 11% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Thornden Wood Primary School is an academy converter in Herne Bay, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of EKC SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED. The school has approximately 301 pupils on roll, of whom 42% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 81% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 13% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #4 of 424 primaries in Kent and #134 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 61%

Reading87% LA 74%

Writing81% LA 72%

Maths84% LA 70%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

78%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading90% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing78% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths88% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading68% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing72% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths65% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.2

Read

LA -0.4

-1.8 to 1.5

0.9

Write

LA -0.2

-0.7 to 2.4

0.2

Maths

LA -1.2

-1.3 to 1.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 February 2024

Inspection Report

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06 March 2020

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-02-20

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-01-30

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-11-27

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.3%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 301 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.3%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	301	1	0.3%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	299	2	0.7%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	306	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	289	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	278	3	1.1%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	307	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	295	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	292	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	304	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	297	2	0.7%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	297	1	0.3%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	313	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	306	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	307	1	0.3%	0.4%
2019/20 (Spring term)	343	1	0.3%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	338	1	0.3%	0.6%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 15 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree38%

disagree10%

strongly disagree6%

don't know8%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree62%

agree33%

disagree6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree38%

agree17%

disagree15%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

not applicable19%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes27%

no73%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree50%

agree29%

disagree21%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree38%

agree40%

disagree8%

don't know13%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree50%

disagree6%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree38%

disagree17%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree48%

disagree6%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree52%

strongly disagree6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree37%

disagree10%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Westgate Primary School

Good

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Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

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Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

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Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Maidstone, ME14 5TZ

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School

Maidstone, St John's Church of England Primary School