Thornton College
Thornton College is a girls boarding and day school in Keynes, Buckinghamshire, educating pupils aged 3 - 19 and founded in 1917. Boarding fees are £11,661 - £15,516 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Girls boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 8 - 19
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Thornton College
The story, ethos and character of Thornton College.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Head
- Dr Louise Shaw
Thornton College is a nurturing and vibrant community where girls aged 3 to 19 thrive. With outstanding pastoral care and a rich, creative curriculum, each girl is supported to become the best version of herself. We welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds from across the UK and the world, including many from Jesus and Mary Schools in 29 countries.
Our shared values, inspired by our foundress Claudine Thévenet - who chose forgiveness, love, and courage in the face of adversity - guide everything we do. At Thornton, we empower girls to make a difference through a curriculum that sparks curiosity, encourages debate, and builds confidence.
Small class sizes ensure every girl is known, supported, and challenged to discover and use her talents fully.
Key points: - Small class sizes - Boarding in main manor house of rooms up to 9 - Private rooms for Sixth Formers in preparation for university - Close communication with parents - Activities at weekends in 25 acres of grounds as well as shopping trips to Bicester Village, Oxford, Cambridge, London and more!
- Evening activities including painting, clay modelling, netball, tennis and swimming. What the school is known for? Exceptional academic results - one of the top performing non-selective schools in the UK. High Value Added. Sixth Form that offers combination A Levels and Vocational Qualifications (BTEC).
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Academics at Thornton College
What pupils study at Thornton College — and where it takes them.
https://www. thorntoncollege. com/sixth-form/sixth-form-subjects/ +10 photos Performing and creative arts Art, Dance, Music and Drama are embraced throughout the school. As well as being taught as part of the curriculum from Prep School upwards, each is a GCSE subject.
At A level we offer numerous Art options, Music and Performing Arts. +1 photos English as an additional At Thornton we have a dedicated English teacher for international students looking to learn English and improve their fluency. Students attend ESOL lessons throughout the week in of lessons such as French and Spanish in the curriculum.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
2024 Sixth Form Leavers: We are happy to share that our students will be pursuing courses at first choice Universities including, Exeter, Cardiff, Liverpool and Loughborough. The courses our students are going on to study are brilliantly varied reflecting their individual interests and include; Dual Hons Music & Psychology with an Integrated Masters; Bupa Apprenticeship in Dental Science; Forensic Science; Prosthetics and Orthotics; Physiotherapy and Neuroscience.
100% of students accepted first choice university places in 2020 & 2021 Oxbridge programme is supported at Thornton with one to one with our Careers and Enterprise Leader for applications and personal statements Russell Group Applications Individual Pathway and work placement experience KPMG and other industry apprenticeships as well as armed forces competitive placements secured.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Thornton College
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Thornton College.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 4, Boys 0, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- No
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
Boarding at Thornton offers a home from home. We are a relatively small boarding community of around 60 girls. At Thornton, we do things differently - we go upstairs to bed! Boarding accommodation is situated on the first and second floors of the Manor House in beautiful bedrooms.
Most rooms have between 3 and 5 beds, with girls in Year 11 - 13 having single study bedrooms. There are no exact weekends and the weekend programme is exciting with a wide variety of fun and cultural activities. Visit our boarding pages to discover more.
A genuine home away from home
We call boarding 'upstairs'! Our boarding houses for prep and senior are upstairs in our Manor House. The girls have lovely spacious bright rooms with large windows overlooking our wonderful grounds. Girls in years 11, 12 and 13 have their own single study rooms.
The Villa (Girls) The Villa We converted a villa in our grounds into a new boarding house for Year 13 students. The Villa is set within our beautiful grounds and is a short walk across Fountain Lawn to school. Each Year 13 student has her own bedroom, with a single bed, cupboards and a study desk.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Thornton College admissions
How children join Thornton College, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school At Thornton, EVERY GIRL is encouraged to develop her talents, not only in the classroom but through a board co-curricular programme which makes use of our modern facilities and 25 acres of beautiful grounds.
Thornton is very proud of it's rich history, exceptional pastoral care for the individual and its strong emphasis on core Christian values, though it is also proud of the fact that it is a forward looking school, with exciting opportunities both in and outside the classroom, and where girls of all faiths and no faith are equally welcome.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Thornton College fees & funding
What Thornton College costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Thornton College.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Thornton College against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Thornton College location & travel
Where Thornton College is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address College Lane, Thornton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0HJ, England Airport transfer We can arrange transfer for you. Travel time to London by train Less than 1 hour Telephone 01280 812610 Website https://www. thorntoncollege.
com/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. London Luton 34 44 2. London Heathrow 64 80 3. London Gatwick 107 120 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Milton Keynes Central 9 15 Local accommodation The Villiers Hotel, Buckingham (4.4 miles) Local area & attractions Thornton College is to some excellent shopping locations including Bicester Village and Milton Keynes Shopping Centre Local cultural attractions include: Bletchley Park Bicester Shopping Village Waddesdon Manor Woburn Abbey & Safari Park Woburn Golf Club MK Museum MK Theatre MK Gallery MK Snow Dome Gullivers Land Milton Keynes Salcey Forest Castle Ashby Gardens
Inside Thornton College
Thornton College — frequently asked questions
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