Reach Free School
| The Reach Free School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
Long Lane, Mill End Rickmansworth , Hertfordshire , WD3 8AB England | |
| Coordinates | 51°37′50″N 0°30′11″W / 51.630526°N 0.503013°WCoordinates: 51°37′50″N 0°30′11″W / 51.630526°N 0.503013°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Information | |
| Type | Free school |
| Motto | Achievement, Community, Enjoyment |
| Established | 2013 |
| Department for Education URN | 139662 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Headteacher | Richard Booth |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Houses | Atticus Calpurnia Jem Radley |
| Website | www |
The Reach Free School is a co-educational secondary free school and sixth form located on Long Lane in Mill End, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England. It serves students aged 11 to 18 and operates with the ethos of ACE – Achievement, Community, Enjoyment.[1]
History
The Reach Free School opened in September 2013 in temporary accommodation, led by founding headteacher Richard Booth. It was established under the free school programme (created by the Cameron Government) to meet growing demand for secondary places in south-west Hertfordshire.[2]
In 2018 the school moved into a permanent, purpose-built site in Mill End, designed and constructed by Willmott Dixon at a cost of £17 million.[3]
Governance
The school operates as a free school with academy status. It is overseen by a governing body and inspected by Ofsted. The founding and current headteacher is Richard Booth.[2]
Campus
The permanent site in Rickmansworth opened in 2018 and includes science laboratories, a sports hall, outdoor pitches, arts classrooms, cooking classrooms and a dedicated sixth form centre. The campus was built to accommodate 840 students[4]. The campus has bike parking and a "Park and Stride" system to manage traffic flow.[1]
Curriculum
The Reach Free School follows the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4. Students study core subjects including English, Mathematics, and Science alongside humanities, modern foreign languages, arts, and enterprise.
The sixth form, opened in 2018, offers a range of A-level and applied qualifications from Government and Politics to Sport[1]
Extracurricular activities
The school offers extracurricular opportunities including:
- Sports teams in football, netball, athletics, and rugby
- Creative arts such as drama and music
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- Electives are run twice a week to allow students to take part in clubs (eg. Film Studies)
- Charity fundraising and volunteering in the local community through "Community Common Room" [1]
Performance
The school was rated "Good" overall by Ofsted, with "Outstanding" leadership and management in its most recent full inspection (October 2024).[2]
In 2024, 64% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and Mathematics, above the national average.[5]
In 2025 their sixth form was rated 38th out of all UK state sixth forms and in the top 1% for student progress[1]
Notable achievements
- Relocation to a purpose-built £17m campus in 2018
- Ofsted recognition for strong safeguarding and leadership[2]
- Sixth form rated in top 1% for progress[1]
- Girls Football team winning the Under 15 National Cup in 2025[6]
Admissions
Admissions are non-selective, with priority given to pupils with EHCPs, looked-after children, siblings of current students, and those living nearest the school.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "The Reach Free School". The Reach Free School. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Ofsted Report: The Reach Free School". Ofsted. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Reach Free School Project". Willmott Dixon. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ "The Reach Free Campus".
- ↑ "Good Schools Guide – The Reach Free School". Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ "Reach Free Girls Football Win".
External links
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