Schoolfile
Search

Free schools · Devon

Thomas Hall School

  • 4–16Ages
  • 438Pupils
  • All-throughPhase
  • 147650URN

Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, EX4 5AD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Requires improvement
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.8per place
0.4 above Devon median (1.4)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in DevonSelective

56 applications for 31 places · small intake, not ranked
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
37.4of 90
39th of 40 in Devon
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 19 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Early years provisionGood

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
1.8applications per place, Year 7
0.4 above Devon median (1.4) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

56 applications · 31 places offered · 30 named it first

Small intakeFewer than 60 places, so not ranked.

  1. 2026 1.8; Devon median median 1.4
  2. 2025 1.6; Devon median median 1.4
  3. 2024 1.5; Devon median median 1.4
  4. 2023 2.0; Devon median median 1.4
  5. 2022 1.8; Devon median median 1.3
  6. 2021 1.4; Devon median median 1.4
  7. 2020 0.4; Devon median median 1.3
  8. 2019 1.0; Devon median median 1.4; as the previous school
  9. 2018 1.8; Devon median median 1.3; as the previous school
  10. 2017 2.4; Devon median median 1.4; as the previous school
  11. 2016 1.9; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.6; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school
  13. 2014 2.0; Devon median median 1.5; as the previous school
  • This school
  • Devon median

Dashed bars: as Steiner Academy Exeter (URN 139661), the previous school.

Reception entry, September 2026: 2.0 per place (18 applications for 9 places).

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

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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 202631561.8300.97
Sep 202551791.6370.73
Sep 202451771.5430.84
Sep 202330612.0260.87
Sep 202225461.8240.96
Sep 202125341.4170.68
Sep 20201880.440.22
Sep 2019 *26271.0160.62
Sep 2018 *24421.8251.04
Sep 2017 *22532.4411.86
Sep 2016 *26501.9311.19
Sep 2015 *20311.6211.05
Sep 2014 *25502.0301.20

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

59 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.439th of 40 in Devon
Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%30th of 40 in Devon
Grade 4 or above in English and maths49%
  • This school
  • Devon median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.27
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)5937.437%49%–
2024/255234.625%46%–
2023/245434.315%44%−0.27
2022/232530.78%16%−0.42

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
Free schools
Phase
All-through
URN · DfE number
147650 · 878/4029
Trust
Reach South Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
720 pupils · 438 on roll
Free school meals
34.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 November 2019
Replaced
Steiner Academy Exeter (URN 139661)
Address
Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, EX4 5AD
Local authority
Devon · Exeter

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