Sir Thomas Rich's School is a mainstream secondary school in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 152 of its 1,240 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 11 (0.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,240 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted report card (2025)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Gloucestershire.
12.3% get SEN support
152 of 1,240 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
0.9% have an EHC plan
11 of 1,240 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia78
- Autism26
- Social, emotional and mental health26
- Speech, language and communication9
- Hearing impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 1,240 (places for 1,150)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Lynch
- Part of
- Sir Thomas Rich's School
- Free school meals
- 6.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Gloucestershire
- School reference (URN)
- 136306
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Gloucestershire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, December 2025: Strong standard in every area
Inspected in December 2025 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16Strong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Oakleaze, Gloucester, GL2 0LF
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- The Milestone School Special school · Ages 2–16 0.7 miles
- Longford Park Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.2 miles
- Valley Bridge School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.3 miles
- Willow Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Longlevens Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 21.1%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.2 miles
- Longlevens Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 21.7%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.4 miles
- Elmbridge Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Gloucestershire SEND schools in Gloucestershire
Questions about Sir Thomas Rich's School
How many pupils at Sir Thomas Rich's School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 152 of the 1,240 pupils (12.3%) were getting SEN support and 11 (0.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Sir Thomas Rich's School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (78 pupils), autism (26 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sir Thomas Rich's School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Sir Thomas Rich's School?
Through Gloucestershire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Sir Thomas Rich's School?
You can ask for Sir Thomas Rich's School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Sir Thomas Rich's School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Longford Park Primary Academy, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Sir Thomas Rich's School?
Oakleaze, Gloucester, GL2 0LF, in Gloucestershire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.