Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #55 in Hertfordshire public Top 25% UK

The Reach Free School

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

personMr Richard Booth

corporate_fareREACH LEARNING LIMITED

location_onRickmansworth, WD3 8AB

language Visit Website phone 1923711517

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

734

trending_up

Attainment 8

44.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#55 in Hertfordshire

#1,888 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Reach Free School is a Free schools secondary school in Rickmansworth, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

article

School Summary

The Reach Free School is a free schools in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of REACH LEARNING LIMITED. The school has approximately 753 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.2, placing the school #55 in Hertfordshire and #1,888 of 3,216 nationally. 35.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 14.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 17 A-level subjects. 35.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 11.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.05 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.4 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

44.2

Grade 5+ E&M

35.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.4%

Entering EBacc69.70%

EBacc APS4.11

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc73.50%

EBacc APS4.33

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc80%

EBacc APS4.31

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS3.77

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc84%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS4.2

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc83%

EBacc APS4.41

explore

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

93%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

workspace_premium

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

-0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.0%

Achieving A*–A11.9%

Achieving A*–B35.6%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate95.8%

A-level subjects offered17

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.41

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate91.90%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.40%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate97.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

27 February 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

02 June 2015

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2019-02-27

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2015-06-02

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

1.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(14 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 753 pupils. During this period, there were 14 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.9%, 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)	753	14	1.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	769	8	1.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	742	10	1.3%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	755	13	1.7%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	761	11	1.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	746	20	2.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	734	17	2.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	753	8	1.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	687	6	0.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	684	11	1.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	690	9	1.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	670	4	0.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	666	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	667	11	1.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	645	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	645	2	0.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	654	17	2.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	582	10	1.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	586	16	2.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	588	13	2.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	525	5	1.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	515	11	2.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	525	15	2.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	399	10	2.5%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	399	5	1.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	398	11	2.8%	3.1%	0

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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 51 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 43 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 34 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 22 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

94.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%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 agree57%

agree35%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree76%

agree20%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree51%

agree14%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

not applicable24%

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

yes28%

no72%

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

strongly agree59%

agree22%

disagree11%

strongly disagree8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree65%

agree25%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree22%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree32%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree50%

agree43%

disagree7%

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

strongly agree73%

agree23%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree63%

agree26%

disagree3%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

Top Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Dame Alice Owen's School

Outstanding

location_on Potters Bar, EN6 2DU

emoji_events #1 in LA

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 7JF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 0AE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Parmiter's School

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD25 0UU

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Clement Danes School

Outstanding

location_on Rickmansworth, WD3 6EW

emoji_events #5 in LA

Sandringham School

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL4 9NX

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Hertfordshire arrow_forward

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

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 Hertfordshire

Dame Alice Owen's School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School