Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #17 in Lancashire public Top 13% UK

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Ed Goddard

corporate_fareTHE BAY LEARNING TRUST

location_onLancaster, LA1 4RS

language Visit Website phone 152464496

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

1,696

trending_up

Attainment 8

50.7

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GCSE Rank

#16 in Lancashire

#847 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Lancaster, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy is an academy converter in Lancaster, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE BAY LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,733 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.7, placing the school #16 in Lancashire and #847 of 3,216 nationally. 58.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 21.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 20 A-level subjects. 46.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 18.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.12 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

50.7

Grade 5+ E&M

58.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)21.1%

Entering EBacc23.90%

EBacc APS4.39

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.6

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24.20%

EBacc APS4.66

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS4.40

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.73

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS4.93

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS4.34

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.12

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

162

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.1%

Achieving A*–A18.9%

Achieving A*–B46.5%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate89.5%

A-level subjects offered20

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.11

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

143

Retention rate87.40%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

176

Retention rate88.10%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

197

Retention rate94.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 December 2022

Inspection Report

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03 November 2020

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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07 December 2011

Inspection Report

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05 July 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-12-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-12-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-01-23

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.6%(45 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,733 pupils. During this period, there were 62 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,733	62	3.6%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,743	71	4.1%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,671	67	4.0%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,676	59	3.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,690	56	3.3%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,679	94	5.6%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,696	75	4.4%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,703	56	3.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,747	58	3.3%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,754	61	3.5%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,756	44	2.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,756	38	2.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,768	11	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,768	33	1.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,733	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,733	20	1.2%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,734	14	0.8%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,719	21	1.2%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,733	27	1.6%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,749	23	1.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,698	19	1.1%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,707	20	1.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,708	29	1.7%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,708	46	2.7%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,715	81	4.7%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,721	37	2.1%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 92 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 31 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 22 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 13 pupils

Hearing Impairment 9 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

83.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

87.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree52%

agree33%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree35%

agree35%

disagree18%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree37%

agree18%

disagree17%

strongly disagree9%

don't know1%

not applicable19%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes24%

no76%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree39%

agree25%

disagree17%

strongly disagree17%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree61%

agree28%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree31%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree37%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree58%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree61%

agree36%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree47%

agree31%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Outstanding

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Inadequate

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Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Good

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Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Good

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Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Good

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Broughton High School

Outstanding

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Broughton High School