Sir Thomas Rich's School

A Blue Coat School founded in 1666 by Sir Thomas Rich, the present school is housed in modern buildings sited in its own playing fields, on the outskirts of Gloucester. We are a boys' Grammar School with a mixed Sixth Form. The School has an excellent reputation locally and nationally. We are heavily over-subscribed each year. We will take in five forms of entry (an increase from four in September 2018). Our total pupil numbers are 1154 which includes 407 in the Sixth Form of whom 129 are girls.

Sir Thomas Rich’s has long been recognised for its high standards of learning and teaching. We were one of the first schools in the country to be awarded Beacon School status by the Government in recognition of excellence and one of the first schools to gain Language College status, Science College status, Sportsmark Gold and the Mental Health Champions award. We have also been a Teaching School and hold the Investors in Careers Quality Mark.

The School aims to provide a secure, happy and stimulating environment in which children can achieve high academic, social and moral standards. All that we do is based on the key foundations of hard work, good conduct and a high level of commitment and loyalty to the School. Our excellent examination results have been featured in the national press each year since the publication of league tables. Government performance tables show that we achieve amongst the best results of all schools and colleges nationally. Furthermore, we are consistently in the top 10% for value added. Teachers are committed to their professional development and strive to be the best practitioners inside and outside the classroom.

Sir Thomas Rich’s is a lively school. There is a busy calendar of extra-curricular activities including residential trips. The sporting side is very strong. The School offers rugby, soccer, cross country running, cricket, tennis, badminton, athletics, basketball and netball. In recent years, several students have gained international honours in sport. Music is also a strength and there is a choir and several other ensembles. Regular, well supported, drama productions take place during the year. There are over twenty active clubs and societies outside Music and Sport, as well as 'fringe' clubs, which exist according to the interests of new pupils and staff. The activities speak for the fact that staff involvement and participation are high.

Four Houses, which each year compete for the Cock House Trophy, provide social, sports and cultural activities within the School. The pastoral system rests primarily and considerably with Form Tutors, overseen by Heads of Year. Further support and guidance is provided by Assistant Heads, each in charge of a section of the School. There are active Parents' and ‘Richian Alumni’ associations. The Parents' Association and friends of the School raise £30,000 plus each year.

The buildings are a cohesive unit of well-maintained classrooms, laboratories, three ICT suites and specialist rooms for subjects such as Technology, Art and Music. Departments are arranged in neighbouring rooms to facilitate sharing of resources. All rooms have interactive whiteboards. The Assembly Hall has a fully equipped stage alongside a Drama Studio and we have a comfortable and spacious Learning Resources Centre completed in 2014. Sports facilities are excellent, comprising a Gymnasium, Sports Hall, fitness suite, indoor swimming pool and a Sports Pavilion. The School moved to its current site in 1964 and the original quadrangle dates from then.

Sir Thomas Rich’s underwent a routine two-day Ofsted inspection recently on 6-7 October 2021, and the Overall Effectiveness of the School has been judged as ‘Good’ as a result.

Headmaster, Matthew Morgan commented:

“We were pleased to welcome four Ofsted Inspectors to the School in October, and to have the opportunity to showcase the ethos and values of Sir Thomas Rich’s. I am extremely proud of the way in which the school community responded to the challenge of a demanding inspection so early in the academic year, following 18 months of significant disruption caused by the pandemic.”

“I am particularly pleased that inspectors highlighted the School’s excellent pastoral care and breadth of extracurricular provision. It was reassuring to hear that inspectors found that pupils are happy at school; they feel safe and their behaviour is impeccable.”

Ofsted stated:

“Pupils are very happy in the school. They feel a huge sense of loyalty. Those who join the school in the sixth form say the same. Every pupil wears the badge with pride. Pupils feel safe and say that they can go to anyone in the school if they have concerns. Leaders have very high expectations of pupils to which they respond willingly. Behaviour is impeccable. Led by the headteacher, there is a culture of respect that permeates the school.”

Chair of the Trustees Mr Roger Ogle said:

“The Education Inspection Framework introduced by Ofsted in 2019 is exceptionally rigorous. Our focus as a school continues to be on the highest standards of teaching and pastoral care for all students, while maintaining access to as wide a range of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities as possible. I have the utmost confidence in the dedicated and hardworking Senior Leadership Team and all the staff at Sir Thomas Rich’s in taking the recommendations forward.”

January 2022