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Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RS · ripleystthomas.com · 0152464496

On the mapSearch near LA1 4RS

Overview

Ofsted
Outstanding
2019 framework · inspected Dec 2022
GCSEs, 2024/25
50.7
average Attainment 8 score. Lancashire 45.1, England 46
Demand for places
1.2
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,755
1 over 1,754 places · 100%
Local authority
Lancashire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
11.1%
First language not English
8.4%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Bay Learning Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 353 families put the school first and 289 places were offered; 78% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 415 (Places 261)415September 2023: 341 (Places 270)341September 2024: 387 (Places 289)387September 2025: 350 (Places 284)350September 2026: 353 (Places 289)353Places 289
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262893531.2▲78%
September 2025Sept 20252843501.2▲80%
September 2024Sept 20242893871.3▲72%
September 2023Sept 20232703411.3▲77%
September 2022Sept 20222614151.6▲60%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.7, and 58% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Lancashire it was 45.1, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.7 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 51.9 (England 46.3)51.92017/18: 52.1 (England 46.5)52.12018/19: 53.6 (England 46.7)53.62021/22: 55.4 (England 48.8)55.42022/23: 51.3 (England 46.3)51.32023/24: 53.9 (England 45.9)53.92024/25: 50.7 (England 46.0)50.7England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲50.746.0
▲58.0%45.4%
▲79.3%64.8%
▼23.9%40.5%
▲4.394.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form46.5−5.8
Sixth form college9.9+7.3
Further education31.5+3.3
Other education0.7−0.1
Apprenticeship6.6+1
Employment2.2−0.1
Not in a lasting destination2.2−3.4
Activity not captured0.4−2.2

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 29.6 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 31.0 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 31.5 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 30.3 (England 32.9)C2021/22: 37.2 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 33.5 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 32.7 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 33.7 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
144 studentsC+ (33.7)Above average +0.12
144 studentsC+ (33.7)Above average +0.12
7 studentsDist+ (40.7)Average +0.39
8.8%AAB or better
89.5%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24124C+ (32.7)-0.11
2022/23154C+ (33.5)—
2021/22185B- (37.2)—
2018/19194C (30.3)-0.06
2017/18193C (31.5)+0.07
2016/17221C (31)+0.05
2015/16199C (29.6)-0.02

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University46.10
Further education1.6−3.1
Apprenticeship12.5+7.3
Employment27.3−3.1
Not in a lasting destination8.6−1.3
Activity not captured3.9+0.2

Ofsted

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 14 December 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Outstanding
Inspected
14 Dec 2022
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Dec 2011

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Dec 2011Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
  • Jan 2008Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (270 replies, to 4 September 2023).

Recommend
83%
Replies
270
15% · 4 Sept 2023
Child is happy at school▼83% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe●87% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved●85% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲89% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▼83% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼70% agreeEngland 82%
Told how child is doing●82% agreeEngland 84%
Good range of subjects▲95% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▲97% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development●78% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼68% agreeEngland 76%

based on the 81% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲53% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 38% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼64% agreeEngland 67%

based on 65 parents (24%) with SEND

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