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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 136731

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Academy converter · Lancaster · LA1 4RS

Ages 11–18 · 1,755 pupils · Lancashire

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Attainment 8

53.9

Overall absence

8.2%

Admissions demand

1.34 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2022-12-14

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.60
−20+2
Attainment 853.9
English & maths grade 5+62%
English & maths grade 4+83%
EBacc entry24%

EBacc APS: 4.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.5%
Unauthorised1.4%
Authorised absence
6.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.5%
Enrolments in measure
1,411

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.34 · Competitive

1st preferences

387

Places offered

289

1st-preference offers

280

Total preferences (any rank)
990
Preferred offers (top 3)
289
Applications from outside LA
4
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill100%

1,755 pupils · 1,754 places

Pupils on roll
1,755
Boys / girls
842 / 913
School capacity
1,754
Capacity fill
1,755 / 1,754 (100%)
Free school meals
11.1%
FSM pupils
159
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Blackburn
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE BAY LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
THE BAY LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
The Bay Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Helen Best and Ms Alexia Barnes

Location

Address
Ashton Road
Postcode
LA1 4RS
Town
Lancaster
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Lancashire
District
Lancaster
Constituency
Lancaster and Wyre
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Lancaster, Lancashire, 1,755 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 11.1%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Blackburn.

Open schools in Lancaster
41
Secondary schools in Lancaster
5
Academies among open schools in Lancaster
17% (7)
Open schools in LA1
25
Secondary in LA1
5
Open schools in Lancashire LA
709
Secondary in Lancashire LA
81

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in LancasterNear LA1

  • Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Lancaster · LA1 1SF · Lancashire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att873.7
    • P80.7
    • EM5+95%
    • Absence5.2%

    0.5 miles away

  • Lancaster Royal Grammar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Lancaster · LA1 3EF · Lancashire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att872.0
    • P80.6
    • EM5+95%
    • Absence6.5%

    0.7 miles away

  • Our Lady's Catholic College

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Lancaster · LA1 2RX · Lancashire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att837.7
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence10.3%

    1.1 miles away

  • Lancaster High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Lancaster · LA1 3LS · Lancashire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att833.5
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+23%
    • Absence11.6%

    1.3 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Helen Best and Ms Alexia Barnes
Telephone
0152464496
Website
http://ripleystthomas.com/

Official links