We recently visited non-selective boarding school Thornton College, just outside Milton Keynes in North Buckinghamshire. Thornton College is consistently ranked as one of the most successful non-selective schools in the UK. It’s an all-through girls’ day and boarding school for ages 3-18 situated in the village of Thornton. Thornton has excellent transport links: by car, 45 minutes from Luton Airport and 1.5 hours from Heathrow; by train, Milton Keynes to London Euston takes 32 minutes. In addition, its proximity to both the M40 and M1 make Thornton College very accessible by car.
Thornton College is part of an international family of schools
The main building is an imposing gothic manor house which was originally mentioned in the Domesday book and is set in 25 acres of beautiful grounds. The school was founded in 1917 and is part of an international family of schools in twenty-eight countries around the world which gives pupils a unique global outlook. The school has a Roman Catholic foundation and upholds Christian principles, but girls of all faiths and none are welcome.
An award winning boarding school with wide range of GCSEs
Thornton is proudly non-selective but offers an outstanding education for your daughter whether she is academically gifted, a good all-rounder or needs additional help in some areas. Thornton’s academic results are testament to the exceptional teaching and pastoral care that the school provides. It offers a diverse and exciting curriculum, with a wide choice of subjects including politics and citizenship, drama, psychology, photography for GCSE, alongside compulsory maths, English, science, religious studies and the more traditional subjects. Previously the school has won the Independent School of the Year Award for its outstanding Student Careers Programme (2020) and was one of three Finalist schools for the ISA Outstanding STEAM provision Award, as well a finalist in the Independent Girls School of the Year Awards 2021.
A Levels and popular vocational BTEC subjects
Thornton’s Sixth Form department is housed at the top of the main building and offers an exceptional experience giving it a real sense of difference from the rest of the school. Stunning, dedicated teaching rooms, with the latest technology including Smart TVs and designed with contemporary fixtures and fittings all arranged in a seminar style encouraging group discussion and full participation. All teaching takes place within the dedicated Sixth Form area aside from Science and Art which use their own specialist facilities. Most subjects are on offer at A Level, but the curriculum also includes popular vocational subjects including a BTEC in Forensic & Criminal Investigation and a Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care.
Sport at Thornton College
Sport is strong with two pupils recently winning ISA Gold in Gymnastics (a brand-new gym is opening in early 2024) and have previously been cricket and cross-country county champions. The equestrian team are regional champions and placed at the NESA National Finals last year and so far, are on track to reach the finals this year. Excellent facilities with the core sports being hockey, netball and cricket. Girls also make the most of the other sports on offer including swimming, cross country, gymnastics, badminton (their current coach is Chris Langridge, a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner), basketball, football, trampolining, tennis and athletics.
70 co-curricular clubs on offer
In true Thornton style the co-curricular offerings reflect individual interests and talents in varied sports and activities allowing key life skills to develop and flourish. There is a superb expressive arts studio (one of the best we have seen) with a ballet barre for dance and drama lessons, and about 70 co-curricular clubs every week ranging from Chamber Choir, Model United Nations to origami, as well as offering music lessons, LAMDA and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Board and become part of the family
Boarding starts at the age of 8 with approximately 65 pupils currently boarding with plans to extend the boarding provision further. Thornton has a wonderful family feel about it and boarding is ‘upstairs’ in the main manor house which offers a home from home experience. The younger girls are in large dorms, which are bright, airy and spacious with stunning views of the grounds, whilst those in Year 11 and 12 are in the Whittlebury Wing and all have single-study rooms.
Year 13 have their own house nestled in the school grounds called ‘The Villa’ and here each girl has her own bedroom and there is a communal kitchen where they can have their breakfast and do their own laundry. A House Mistress stays with the Year 13s and is on hand if needed but essentially the girls are more independent, living with others which prepares them for the next steps into university life.
Thornton is a happy school; the girls exude confidence and good manners in all years and were a delight to meet. With small class sizes the school offers a warm and nurturing education alongside a rigorous and exciting curriculum which aims to get the best out of every girl. The Head, Dr Louise Shaw is incredibly inspiring and passionate about all girls’ education. Thornton without doubt is a school where girls can develop both intellectual and physical confidence.
