Schools by area › Hertfordshire › The Reach Free School
The Reach Free School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Free school
Long Lane, Rickmansworth WD3 8AB · reachfreeschool.co.uk · 01923 711517
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Oct 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 734
- 87% of 840 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.6%
- First language not English
- 15.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 84 families put the school first and 109 places were offered; 80% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 109 | 84 | 0.8 | 80% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 107 | 121 | 1.1▲ | 64% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 108 | 118 | 1.1▲ | 64% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 116 | 132 | 1.1▲ | 61% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 141 | 126 | 0.9 | 92% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.2, and 35.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼35.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼62.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲69.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.11 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 48.7 | +5.7 |
| Sixth form college | 0.9 | — |
| Further education | 38.5 | −4.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.7 | — |
| Employment | 3.4 | −0.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6 | +1 |
| Activity not captured | 0.9 | −4.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 students | C (30.7) | Average -0.05 | |
| 51 students | C (30.8) | Average -0.05 | |
| 21 students | Dist (34.1) | Average +0.03 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38 | C+ (33.3) | +0.41 |
| 2022/23 | 41 | C (29.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 46 | B (39.8) | — |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 53.2 | −28.4 |
| Further and other education | 4.2 | +2.1 |
| Further education | 2.1 | — |
| Other education | 2.1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1 | −2 |
| Employment | 27.7 | +21.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.4 | +2.3 |
| Activity not captured | 6.4 | +4.4 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for The Reach Free School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 15 Oct 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jun 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (130 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 130
- 17% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 32% who had a child bullied
based on 36 parents (28%) with SEND