Classpot

Thornden School

Eastleigh, SO53 2DWSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
Progress 8
+0.74
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
274 1st-choice / 280 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#245 of 3,141 nationally

About Thornden School

Thornden School sits in the Hampshire local authority, in the Eastleigh borough, and ranks as the top-performing secondary in its immediate area of five schools, based on Progress 8 scores. Across the wider Hampshire secondary landscape, it places third out of 80 schools, behind Sparsholt College Hampshire and Lift Winton, both of which also post strong Progress 8 scores. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. Headteacher Caroline Lowing leads a large school of 1,451 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 1,400. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 6.1%, well below the national average, reflecting the relatively affluent catchment. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a downgrade from its previous Outstanding rating in 2007, but the school remains a strong local choice.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWinchester Road, Eastleigh, Eastleigh, SO53 2DW
HeadteacherCaroline Lowing
Local AuthorityHampshire
Number of Pupils1,451
Free School Meals (FSM)6.1%
School Capacity1,451 / 1,400 (104% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Sports HallLibraryPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsScience LabsTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

NetballRoundersSwimmingCross CountryCricketHockeyRugbyFootball

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraDramaDebateCodingFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 14:50

Source: thornden.hants.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Thornden School

Thornden School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.