Federation of Thornhill Primary School and Laycock Primary School

The governing bodies of Thornhill Primary School and Laycock Primary School have decided to federate. The federation date is 1 June 2026.

The decision was taken unanimously by both boards — the Laycock Interim Executive Board on 12 March and the Thornhill Full Governing Body on 13 March 2026 — following careful consideration of the consultation responses and the evidence from nearly three years of successful partnership.

A seven-week public consultation was held from 6 January to 24 February 2026 in accordance with the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012. We received 95 responses from parents, carers, staff and governors across both schools. Of the 95 responses, 58 supported the proposal, 22 opposed and 15 were unsure. Both boards discussed the concerns raised in detail before any vote was taken. The full consultation report is published below.

Both schools will continue to operate as separate schools, each with their own name, identity, budget, staff and Ofsted inspection. Each school retains its Head of School leading day-to-day operations, with Jenny Lewis as Executive Headteacher providing strategic leadership across the federation.

If you have questions, please contact the school office.