A special ceremony marked the opening of the new school. Many visitors, including members of the local education committee, school governors and the Mayor of Dewsbury, attended this opening ceremony. The Rector of Thornhill, the Reverend Christopher Spafford, dedicated the School and Alderman Fred Fox performed the official opening. The school hymn, ‘Praise My Soul the King of Heaven,’ was sung, and the school choir performed three pieces of music.

Architects began planning for the school in 1960. Work started in March 1962, and the school was handed over in May 1964. The total cost came to just over £230,000. Mr McAllister, the school’s first Headmaster, was very impressed by the brand-new facilities and remarked upon the efficiency of having an in-house telephone system — something we take for granted today with our high-tech, modern communication systems.

By the late 1970s, the school had grown. An increase in pupils meant that a new block, the Humanities block, was to be added. Extra Science laboratories were built in the mid-1980s. As the comprehensive system came into force, Thornhill Secondary School was to change its name to Thornhill High School.

Between 2001 and 2004, further developments extended the school. New buildings were added to the site, and the original 1964 classrooms were refurbished. The latest building to be added to the site is the Sports Hall, which was built in 2007.

In 2003, the school was renamed The Community Science College @ Thornhill and became a specialist science college. In December 2012, it was renamed Thornhill Community Academy, the name it is known by today. In 2018, it became part of the Share Multi-Academy Trust.