Classpot

The Thomas Adams School

Shropshire, SY4 5UBSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.50
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
235 1st-choice / 206 places
Ranking
#2,603
of 3,141 nationally

About The Thomas Adams School

The Thomas Adams School in Shropshire is a mixed state secondary with a sixth form, and it's a school that families clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 410 applications for 206 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of nearly two applicants per place. Of those, 235 families put it as their first preference, and 200 first-preference offers were made. The school has a published capacity of 1,336 pupils and currently rolls at 1,207, so there is some headroom, but demand is strong. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 18.1%, which is higher than the national average for secondary schools, suggesting a genuinely mixed intake. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Mark Cooper, who has been at the helm since at least its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, when it was rated Good across all categories.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressLowe Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 5UB
HeadteacherMark Cooper
Local AuthorityShropshire
Number of Pupils1,207
Free School Meals (FSM)18.1%
School Capacity1,207 / 1,336 (90% full)
Sixth FormYes
BoardingYes — Boarding school

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

13 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 15 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Music RoomsDining HallGymnasiumAstro TurfSports HallSwimming PoolSixth Form CentreTheatrePlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

TennisCricketGymnasticsRugbySwimmingDanceCross CountryNetballBasketball

Clubs & Activities

DebateScience ClubFilm ClubModel United NationsChessEco ClubArt ClubDramaNewspaperDuke of EdinburghYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:20

Source: thomasadams.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thomas Adams School

The Thomas Adams School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.