Academy converter · Shropshire

The Thomas Adams School

11–18Ages
1,214Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
147508URN

Lowe Hill, Wem, Shrewsbury, SY4 5UB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.4 above Shropshire median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Shropshire

463 applications for 207 places · 7th of 18 in Shropshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.3of 90

Shropshire 41.9 England 46.0

6th of 20 in Shropshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 September 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

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

2.2applications per place, Year 7

0.4 above Shropshire median (1.8) close to England median (2.2)

463 applications · 207 places offered · 237 named it first

2026 2.2; Shropshire median median 1.8
2025 2.0; Shropshire median median 1.6
2024 2.0; Shropshire median median 1.6
2023 1.6; Shropshire median median 1.6
2022 1.7; Shropshire median median 1.6
2021 1.5; Shropshire median median 1.5
2020 1.5; Shropshire median median 1.7; as the previous school
2019 1.4; Shropshire median median 1.5; as the previous school
2018 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.5; as the previous school
2016 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2015 1.3; Shropshire median median 1.4; as the previous school
2014 1.4; Shropshire median median 1.3; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Shropshire median in 5 of 6 years.

This school
Shropshire median

Dashed bars: as The Thomas Adams School, Wem (URN 123589), the previous school.

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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	207	463	2.2	237	1.14
Sep 2025	206	410	2.0	235	1.14
Sep 2024	205	415	2.0	216	1.05
Sep 2023	207	340	1.6	212	1.02
Sep 2022	198	329	1.7	186	0.94
Sep 2021	204	310	1.5	220	1.08
Sep 2020 *	202	296	1.5	199	0.99
Sep 2019 *	205	285	1.4	197	0.96
Sep 2018 *	196	249	1.3	181	0.92
Sep 2017 *	189	247	1.3	173	0.92
Sep 2016 *	182	238	1.3	175	0.96
Sep 2015 *	179	230	1.3	165	0.92
Sep 2014 *	193	272	1.4	200	1.04

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

207 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.36th of 20 in Shropshire

Shropshire 41.9 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%7th of 20 in Shropshire

Shropshire 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%

Shropshire 58% England 66%

This school
Shropshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.50

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	207	43.3	38%	61%	–
2024/25	209	43.4	36%	62%	–
2023/24	212	42.3	27%	55%	−0.50
2022/23	204	43.0	32%	49%	−0.38

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

The Thomas Adams SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.2applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
The Corbet School
10.9 km · Shropshire

Remains Good2022

2.3applications per place 46.0Attainment 8
Sir John Talbot's School
11.6 km · Shropshire

Good2023

1.7applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Lakelands Academy
12.6 km · Shropshire

2026

2.1applications per place 42.7Attainment 8
Shrewsbury Academy
14.2 km · Shropshire

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 31.9Attainment 8
Belvidere School
16.6 km · Shropshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
The Grove School
17.8 km · Shropshire

Requires improvement2023

1.3applications per place 38.2Attainment 8
The Priory School
18.3 km · Shropshire

Good2023

4.3applications per place 52.6Attainment 8
Meole Brace School
18.7 km · Shropshire

Good2024

2.5applications per place 43.8Attainment 8

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: 147508 · 893/4503
Trust: The 3-18 Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,336 pupils · 1,214 on roll
Free school meals: 17.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2020
Replaced: The Thomas Adams School, Wem (URN 123589)
Address: Lowe Hill, Wem, Shrewsbury, SY4 5UB
Local authority: Shropshire

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