School profile

The Reach Free School

Secondary · Free schools · Rickmansworth, WD3 8AB

Good

Map showing The Reach Free School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,884 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,729 of 2,536

Worse than 68% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Reach Free School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 27 Feb 2019

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFree schools
Ages11 to 18
Pupils734
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Richard Booth
TrustREACH LEARNING LIMITED
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened02 Sept 2013
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139662.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.44.7, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.59.6%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.29.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.7.9%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths55.3%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4114--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.30.7, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeC--
Average points, best three A-levels32.06, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better11.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.05, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study61--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils734
Girls341
Boys393
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.19.5%
First language not English15.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.840
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.12.6%
Sixth form places2024/25240
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.134
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.54
Average class size18

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
70.3%
Other White
7.8%
Other mixed
3.7%
Other Asian
3%
White and Asian
2.5%
Indian
2.5%
White and Black Caribbean
2%
African
1.5%
Pakistani
1.2%
White and Black African
0.7%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher14.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11
Teachers (FTE)49.8
Teaching assistants (FTE)8.43
Support staff (FTE)26.31
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2551.6
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2546.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254.4
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.109
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.298
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.84
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.67
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)127

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence8.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.22.8%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.5%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire2.9%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate5.6%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.93.2%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.88%
School sixth form48.7%
Further education38.5%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6%
Employment3.4%
Apprenticeship1.7%
Sixth form college0.9%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.87.2%
Higher education53.2%
Employment27.7%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6.4%
Further education2.1%
Apprenticeship2.1%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Reach Free School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimaryShepherd PrimaryCommunity school
Good
0.6 miPrimarySt Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.6 miPrimarySt John Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryArnett Hills Junior Mixed and Infant SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.1 miPrimaryMaple Cross Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.2 miPrimaryChorleywood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.3 miPrimarySt Mary's Rickmansworth CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.4 miNot applicableCharlotte House Preparatory SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
1.7 miNot applicableRoyal Masonic School for GirlsOther independent school
Unrated
1.7 miPrimaryChrist Church Chorleywood CofE SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about The Reach Free School

What is The Reach Free School's Ofsted rating?

The Reach Free School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 27 Feb 2019.

How does The Reach Free School rank in England?

The Reach Free School ranks 1,884 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,729 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 68% of schools).

What are The Reach Free School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 29.8% of pupils at The Reach Free School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 44.7 (England 46.2).

What are The Reach Free School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Reach Free School was C, and 11.8% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Reach Free School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Reach Free School made 109 offers from 298 applications (2.7 per offer), and 67 of 84 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Reach Free School?

The Reach Free School has 734 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Reach Free School?

The Reach Free School had 840 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Reach Free School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Reach Free School has a sixth form with 240 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Reach Free School?

At The Reach Free School, the average class had 18 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Reach Free School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Reach Free School missed 8.8% of sessions (England 8%), and 22.8% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.