Sir Thomas Rich's School
109%
Capacity
1,249
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Sir Thomas Rich's School
Sir Thomas Rich's School, a boys' state secondary in Gloucester, significantly outperforms the local authority average for Progress 8. Its score of 0.91 is nearly five times the Gloucestershire average of 0.19, placing it fourth out of 44 similar schools in the area. This strong academic value-add is consistent across subjects: progress in maths sits at 1.2, and in the EBacc subjects at 1.22, both well above the norm. The school is also selective in its intake, with only 4.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals compared to a typical state secondary. With 1249 pupils against a capacity of 1150, it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, 451 families applied for 148 places, and 196 put it as their first choice. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding, a notable strength for a large single-sex school.
Academically, the school delivers strong results across both key stages. At GCSE, 100% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 98.7% reaching grade 5 or above. The average Attainment 8 score is 76.9, and the EBacc average point score is 7.03, reflecting a curriculum that prioritises academic breadth. Over half of pupils (53.5%) entered the EBacc suite of subjects. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score is 0.24, rated as above average, and the average points per entry is 44.3, equivalent to a B+ grade. More than a third of A-level entries (37.3%) were graded AAB or higher. Nationally, the school ranks 116th out of 3,141 schools for Progress 8, placing it in the top 4% of all state secondaries.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rugby, hockey, cricket, and athletics, while extracurricular activities range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN to orchestra and eco club. The school has a chapel on site, though it has no religious character. SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language needs. For families considering a boys' grammar-style education in a selective state setting, Sir Thomas Rich's offers strong academic outcomes, a disciplined environment, and a well-resourced campus. Its oversubscription rate of over three applicants per place means early registration is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Oakleaze, Gloucester, Gloucester, GL2 0LF |
| Headteacher | Matthew Lynch |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,249 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,249 / 1,150 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Nov 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.91)
116th of 3,141
Nationally
7th of 306
In South West
2nd of 9
In Gloucester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
46.5
'22/23
44.3
'23/24
44.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2396%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 125 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)96%
- Sixth form college2%
- FE college1%
- Apprenticeship1%
100% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 204 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
54%
Russell Group
54%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics100
- Biology72
- Chemistry66
- Physics62
- Psychology44
- Geography39
- Economics32
- Business Studies:Single29
- History29
- English Literature28
- Government and Politics19
- Art and Design16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed148
451
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
196 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British54.9%
- Asian29.3%
- Mixed5.8%
- White (other)3.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Thomas Rich's School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Oakleaze, Gloucester
Gloucester, GL2 0LF
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