Blackthorn Primary School

About Blackthorn Primary School

Blackthorn Primary School sits within the West Northamptonshire local authority, where it ranks 99th out of 147 primary schools of the same type. That places it in the bottom half of the local league table, some distance behind the top-performing peers in the area. The three highest-ranked schools nearby are Helmdon Primary School, Greatworth Primary School, and The Bramptons Primary School, all of which achieved perfect or near-perfect ranking scores. For families looking at the very strongest local options, the nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is The Arbours Primary Academy, just two kilometres away. Blackthorn itself was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was judged Inadequate overall. The school has a mixed intake of 231 pupils, with 37.2 per cent eligible for free school meals, and it offers nursery provision for younger children.

Academically, Blackthorn’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined was 55 per cent, below the West Northamptonshire local authority average of 63 per cent. In individual subjects, reading performed strongest, with 74 per cent meeting expectations and 16 per cent reaching the higher standard. Writing and maths followed at 68 per cent and 61 per cent respectively, though only 3 per cent achieved the higher standard in writing and 6 per cent in maths. Average scaled scores were 103 for reading and 102 for maths, both close to the national benchmark of 100. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom third, sitting at the 69.7th percentile among primary schools. Ofsted’s inspection breakdown rated every category as Good, including early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, music rooms, a gymnasium, art studios, a sensory room, and an ICT suite. Sports provision covers football, cricket, swimming, dance, rounders, and netball, while after-school clubs include gardening, coding, eco club, science club, chess, and drama. For children with additional needs, Blackthorn supports a broad spectrum of SEND provisions, including moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Admissions for the 2025/26 year show the school is oversubscribed, with 39 applications for 23 places and 22 first-preference offers made. This suggests a school that, despite its middling academic ranking, is popular locally and may suit families who value its inclusive SEND support, broad extracurricular offering, and the stability of a Good-rated setting close to home.

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