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OpenAll-throughOfsted: Requires improvementURN 147650

Thomas Hall School

Free schools · Exeter · EX4 5AD

Ages 4–16 · 438 pupils · Devon

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Attainment 8

34.3

Overall absence

14.5%

Admissions demand

0.84 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2024-03-19

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
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 8-0.27
−20+2
Attainment 834.3
English & maths grade 5+15%
English & maths grade 4+44%
EBacc entry24%

EBacc APS: 3.1

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)54%
Higher standard (RWM)4%
Avg scaled score — reading
104.0
Avg scaled score — maths
101.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
103.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence14.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)44.7%
Unauthorised5.9%
Authorised absence
8.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
10.3%
Enrolments in measure
485

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

0.84 · Often has places

1st preferences

43

Places offered

51

1st-preference offers

42

Total preferences (any rank)
77
Preferred offers (top 3)
51
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
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 fill61%

438 pupils · 720 places

Pupils on roll
438
Boys / girls
228 / 210
School capacity
720
Capacity fill
438 / 720 (61%)
Free school meals
34%
FSM pupils
148
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 4–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: REACH SOUTH ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
REACH SOUTH ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Reach South Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr Phil Arnold

Location

Address
Cowley Bridge Road
Postcode
EX4 5AD
Town
Exeter
County
Devon
Local authority
Devon
District
Exeter
Constituency
Exeter
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to 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 free schools (all-through), Ages 4–16, in Exeter, Devon, 438 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 34%.

Open schools in Exeter
83
All-through schools in Exeter
3
Academies among open schools in Exeter
52% (43)
Open schools in EX4
19
All-through in EX4
1
Open schools in Devon LA
428
All-through in Devon LA
4

Nearby all-through schools

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

Compare with theseAll in ExeterNear EX4

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Phil Arnold
Telephone
01392757371
Website
https://www.thomashallschool.org

Official links