Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge

About Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge

If you're looking for a school where parents are genuinely delighted, Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School in Dunsop Bridge is hard to beat. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering responses from September 2024 to September 2025, every single parent who responded said they would recommend the school. That's a 100% recommend rate from 14 respondents. The feedback is consistently glowing: 100% of parents strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, feels safe, and that the school makes sure pupils are well behaved. Every parent also strongly agreed that their child can take part in clubs and activities, and that the school supports their child's wider personal development. The school is also oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 6 applications for just 4 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.5. All 4 first-preference applicants received an offer, which suggests that for families who prioritise it, a place is achievable but not guaranteed.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent graded inspections. The most recent graded inspection took place in 2015, and an ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained. Leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all judged Good. While specific Key Stage 2 SATs results for the school are not available in the data, the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Lancashire is 60, which provides a useful benchmark for context. The school is very small, with just 20 pupils on roll against a capacity of 70, meaning class sizes are tiny and each child receives a high level of individual attention. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is a primary school for ages 3 to 11, and it does offer nursery provision for younger children.

Thorneyholme is a Roman Catholic state primary school in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and its facilities reflect a strong commitment to both outdoor learning and traditional school life. It has a Forest School, a library, a dining hall, an ICT suite, and a chapel. The range of sports on offer is broad for a school of its size, including netball, athletics, rounders, cross country, swimming, cricket, and football. Clubs include Book Club, Chess, Film Club, Art Club, Coding, and Gardening. The school has identified SEND provisions for Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia) and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs, though the Parent View data shows no responses to the question about SEND support, so it's unclear how many families are accessing this. This is a school that will particularly suit families who value a close-knit, faith-based community with strong parental satisfaction, small class sizes, and a focus on personal development alongside academic progress. Its rural location in Dunsop Bridge means it serves a relatively small catchment, and the oversubscription suggests it is a popular choice locally.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Thorneyholme Roman Catholic Primary School, Dunsop Bridge

Helpful Guides for Parents