The Reach Free School, Rickmansworth

In its own words: "The Reach Free School will be more than just a school; it will be a community. It will be a unique community working towards a goal of much greater stakes than examination results alone. Regardless of who you are, where you have been, what you know, our school will welcome you to contribute to our community but contribute you must."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At The Reach Free School, we believe that a happy, supportive community is the perfect foundation for academic excellence. We inspire a genuine love of learning in our pupils, setting ambitious targets within our modern facilities to help them discover their full potential. This blend of high-quality teaching and a personalised approach creates the wonderfully cohesive environment you’ll find here."

In 2026, pupils at The Reach Free School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

30% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 44.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.02: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40, against 45.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Spanish and History.

For September 2026 entry, 84 families put The Reach Free School as their first choice and 298 named it as one of their preferences, for 109 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Reach Free School are Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.6); St Clement Danes School (2.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 64); Rickmansworth School (2.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 63.7); and Harefield School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 33.8).

The Reach Free School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

The Reach Free School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

130 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Reach Free School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 68% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (68%).

Of the 117 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 13% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 134 pupils (18.3%) received SEN support and 54 (7.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The Reach Free School had 55 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest Underground station is Rickmansworth Underground Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Long Lane (near), 390 metres away.

In 2024/25, The Reach Free School issued 42 suspensions, 5.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Reach Free School are Shepherd Primary (0.4 miles), St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.6 miles), St John Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles) and Arnett Hills Junior Mixed and Infant School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.