Classpot

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Lancaster, LA1 4RSSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Dec 2022
Progress 8
+0.60
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
350 1st-choice / 284 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#372 of 3,141 nationally

About Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.6 places it well above the national average, but the gap is even starker when compared with the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11 for secondary schools. That difference of 0.71 is substantial, and it means pupils here typically achieve nearly three-quarters of a grade more per subject than their peers across the county. The school ranks second out of seven schools in the Lancaster area on this measure, and sits comfortably inside the top 25 per cent of all secondary schools nationally. Its attainment 8 score of 53.9 further reinforces the picture of strong academic performance, with 82.8 per cent of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially rated as ‘well above average’, and the confidence interval — ranging from 0.43 to 0.77 — suggests this is a reliable, not fluky, result.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressAshton Road, Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4RS
HeadteacherHelen Best
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils1,733
Free School Meals (FSM)10.6%
School Capacity1,733 / 1,754 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

14 Dec 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 8 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Playing FieldsSports HallGymnasiumArt StudiosICT SuiteMusic RoomsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

SwimmingGymnasticsNetballRowingAthleticsBasketballMartial ArtsCricketRugby

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsDramaDuke of EdinburghArt ClubChoirScience ClubCodingNewspaperDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: ripleystthomas.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.