HISTORY:
Thornton College occupies the former Manor House of Thornton. The Manor dates back to the 11th Century and is mentioned in the Domesday Book, but most of the House still in use today is part of a mid-14th Century development. Three families, Cavendish, Ingleton and Tyrell predominantly owned the Manor prior to the Sisters’ purchase in 1917. It is these families which give their names to our school Houses.
Thornton College has a rich traditional history full of character and stories and many of the architectural features that exist in the school today relate to the families that once owned Thornton Hall.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR:
Thornton provides over 80 extra curricular clubs across the week. The vast majority of these are included in fees and are run by enthusiastic and dedicated staff. Clubs range from chess, debating, engineering, sports, choirs, orchestra to glee, slime, touch typing, knitting, fun and friendship, Formula 1 Racing and more! We do have external coaches for clubs such as yoga, badminton, karate and cricket. There are charges for externally coached clubs. There are opportunities for students to have one to one or dedicated lessons in Music, Speech & Drama and Ballet with peripatetic staff.
ENGLISH SUPPORT:
All international students are required to attend ESOL lessons initially with our dedicated full time ESOL Teacher. Once students reach the required level of English it is not compulsory to attend ESOL lessons. However, most students will join and attend ESOL lessons each week in place of Modern Foreign Language lessons (French / Spanish). English as a Foreign Language (ESOL) teaching is charged at £675 per term.
PRE-16 QUALIFICATIONS:
Everything we do at Thornton College focuses on the happiness and welfare of the children in our
care. Of course, we can claim academic excellence; we are one of the top performing non-selective schools in the UK, but few schools can match the feeling of community and happiness.
Thornton College has a strong work ethic and your daughter will be encouraged, and expected, to achieve her personal best in all that she does. We believe that teaching and learning should be both challenging and enjoyable for students of all abilities and we aim for the highest possible standards. Teaching at Thornton is of an exceptional standard across all disciplines and teachers engender both
a love for their subject and a love of learning.
ACCOMMODATION:
At Thornton College we have a range of accommodation for various age groups in two main boarding Houses; Barton and Chastillon. For the majority of students, boarding is upstairs in our Manor House in large bedrooms with stunning views, lots of space, high ceilings and natural light.
Accommodation for girls in Year 13 is in The Villa, a beautiful detached house located in the school
grounds.
PASTORAL:
At Thornton each child is know individually (day and boarding). Thornton provides excellent pastoral
care across the school with engaged and caring Form Tutors, committed Head of Year staff, an outstanding Learning Development team, Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy Head, Head of Safeguarding and Boarding, full time Nurse and on site medical centre, dedicated boarding House
Mistresses and wellbeing initiatives such as Listening Ear, Wellbeing Wednesdays and Fun Fridays.
Thorntons community:
Thornton College is a community where girls thrive; where outstanding pastoral care and a wonderfully creative and broad curriculum and co-curriculum enables each girl to become the very best version of herself.
We are a vibrant and diverse school, welcoming girls from 3 to 18 of all faiths and none, from across the UK and the world – including many of the Jesus and Mary Schools situated in 29 different countries. We embrace and celebrate our differences knowing that we are also a community, a
community bound by a shared set of values.
At Thornton, we educate girls so that not only can they make a difference, but they want to make a difference. We do this by providing a curriculum and co-curriculum that inspire curiosity and by providing classes and clubs that stir debate and instil the belief needed to formulate and share
opinions; Thornton girls learn how to listen and empathise, to work together and share ideas but also how to lead. Our small class sizes allow us to know each girl as an individual, to grow with her on her educational journey, crafting a school experience so that she is not only able to discover her
talents but more importantly – use them to the full!