Welcome from The Executive Head

Thornden is an Outstanding School, passionate about working with young people to develop learners who are excited and ready for today, tomorrow and their future.

Students at Thornden achieve outstanding results regardless of their starting point.  They leave us and move to excellent local colleges before feeding into universities across the country and the world as well as moving into exciting training and employment opportunities.

We teach students how to learn; to face challenges and problems and to find solutions, building resilience, confidence and the ability to work individually and together.

High expectations reach far beyond academic performance.  Students engage in clubs, activities, trips and charity events, developing resilience while they enjoy and learn to work with people around them.  This engagement is fulfilling in itself but also develops strength and confidence when responding to academic and individual challenges.

Supporting students to develop friendship and enjoyment in a respectful environment, allows them to learn how to work together, value each other and engage with the wider world, media and local community.

Partnerships with parents/carers are critical to ensuring the best outcomes.  All our teachers, but particularly tutors and Heads of Year, will work with students and parents/carers as individuals to support children to reach their potential and overcome any barriers that may be present or arise.

We are pleased to present our current prospectus.  We feel it will provide you with a valuable insight into how we provide the highest standards of education for all our students.  We would be delighted for you to join us at one of our open events so that you can see the school during a normal day of learning.

Patrick Earnshaw
Executive Headteacher

 

Welcome from The Head of School

Thornden is a school where staff, students and parents feel valued.  We have a warm community spirit that enables individuals to develop their own talents and abilities, whilst taking the opportunity to try something new and different, without the fear of failure.

We have superb teachers and support staff, who take pride in their work and their achievements.  They have passion for their subject and an enthusiasm in ensuring that all children in their care reach their full potential.

Our students make excellent progress, this is as a result of high-quality teaching, strong relationships with teachers and a collective, aspirational desire to do their best. 

We place emphasis on our four key themes: Participation, Respect, Aspiration and Enjoyment.

Maintaining a constant focus on these four themes, provides the drive for continuing to improve our already outstanding school.  We are not prepared to rest on our laurels but strive for even greater opportunity for improvement.

Our school is, however, unique and no website can fully capture the spirit of Thornden. The only way to get a feel for what we believe in and how we do things is to come for a visit on one of our Open Mornings or Open Evening and meet the people that make the school such a special place.

Caroline Lowing
Interim Head of School