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Academy converter · Lancashire

Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,755Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 136731URN

Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA1 4RS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2022 Previous framework

Outstanding
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
3.2per place
0.6 above Lancashire median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

917 applications for 289 places · 22nd of 81 in Lancashire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
49.1of 90
23rd of 81 in Lancashire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 14 December 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth form provisionOutstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
3.2applications per place, Year 7
0.6 above Lancashire median (2.5) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

917 applications · 289 places offered · 353 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.6
  2. 2025 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.7
  3. 2024 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.6
  4. 2023 3.5; Lancashire median median 2.6
  5. 2022 3.8; Lancashire median median 2.5
  6. 2021 3.6; Lancashire median median 2.6
  7. 2020 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.8
  8. 2019 3.4; Lancashire median median 2.7
  9. 2018 3.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
  10. 2017 3.0; Lancashire median median 2.7
  11. 2016 3.1; Lancashire median median 2.7
  12. 2015 2.8; Lancashire median median 2.7
  13. 2014 3.2; Lancashire median median 2.6
More applications per place than the Lancashire median in 13 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Lancashire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262899173.23531.22
Sep 20252849123.23501.23
Sep 20242899903.43871.34
Sep 20232709313.53411.26
Sep 20222619993.84151.59
Sep 20212801,0123.63681.31
Sep 20202799363.43191.14
Sep 20192809603.43541.26
Sep 20182809113.33471.24
Sep 20172708223.02691.00
Sep 20162708363.12961.10
Sep 20152697582.82841.06
Sep 20142718623.23331.23

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

276 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.123rd of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths55%17th of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths77%
  • This school
  • Lancashire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.60
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)27649.155%77%–
2024/2527650.758%79%–
2023/2427353.962%83%+0.60
2022/2327851.360%82%+0.27

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136731 · 888/4689
Trust
The Bay Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
1,754 pupils · 1,755 on roll
Free school meals
11.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 May 2011
Replaced
Ripley St Thomas Church of England High School (URN 119796)
Address
Ashton Road, Lancaster, LA1 4RS
Local authority
Lancashire · Lancaster

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources