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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire 11+

Sir Thomas Rich's School

Oakleaze, Gloucester, GL2 0LF

A Gloucester boys grammar school with co-educational sixth form entry, selective testing, and a strong academic profile.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #65
Year 7 places
155
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #65
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
Places in Year 7
155
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Sir Thomas Rich's School, known locally as Tommies, is a Gloucester selective boys' grammar with a co-educational sixth form and around 1,250 pupils. Its motto, Garde Ta Foy, is still translated on the school site as Keep The Faith, and the school places a strong emphasis on what it means to be a Richian from a pupil's first visit.

The ethos is built around endeavour, curiosity, creativity and leadership. Sir Thomas Rich's describes a small-school feel inside a high-performing grammar, with pastoral care, self-confidence and resilience given real prominence alongside academic ambition. Its curriculum is broad and rich: English, mathematics, languages, technology, science, computing, humanities, art, music, philosophy and theology, drama, PE, PSHE and citizenship.

The sixth form usually begins with four A levels before students specialise, with EPQ, Further Mathematics and additional language courses available where entry requirements are met. Beyond lessons, pupils have routes into music, drama, charitable fundraising, Duke of Edinburgh, sports or other interests, the house system and the Tommy's Award.

Year 7 has 155 places and entry is through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, using GL Assessment material across verbal, non-verbal, English and mathematics skills. Qualifying applicants are allocated through statutory priority, pupil premium, staff priority and then test rank. Published measures show Ofsted Good, Progress 8 around +0.91, 99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 32.5% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test: 2 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
155 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
96.1% grade 5+ in English and maths and 75.2 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 32.5% AAB or better and 63.5% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Gloucestershire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for STRS, Gloucestershire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
75.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
96.1%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Gloucestershire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for STRS, Gloucestershire, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Gloucestershire and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for STRS, Gloucestershire, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Matthew Lynch
Pupil roll
1,240 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Sir Thomas Rich's School
FSM ?
6.2%
EAL ?
17%
EHCP ?
0.9%

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,240 pupils; 1,234 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 55.2% Asian 33.1% Mixed 6.6% Black 3.7% Other 1% Unclassified 0.5%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Oakleaze, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Postcode
GL2 0LF
Area
Gloucestershire
Exam area
Gloucestershire 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Matthew Lynch

School contact

School email
admin@strs.org.uk
School phone
01452338400

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions email
admissions@strs.org.uk
Admissions phone
01452338400
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
155 places
Applications listed
424 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
194 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Pass mark note
There is no pre-defined pass mark. Qualifying standards are set by the Trustees' Admission Committee before results are issued, and allocation then uses the published criteria.

Entry is through the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test. Sir Thomas Rich's allocates qualifying applicants by statutory priority, pupil premium, staff priority and then test rank order.

There is no catchment criterion in the 2027 policy. After priority groups, qualifying applicants are allocated by test rank order.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Boys who meet the qualifying standard and the statutory looked-after/previously-looked-after definition.

  2. 2

    Pupil premium

    Boys registered for pupil premium who meet the qualifying standard.

  3. 3

    Children of staff

    Children of qualifying staff at the school.

  4. 4

    Other qualifying boys in rank order

    Remaining qualifying applicants are allocated by test rank order.

Admissions policy

Sir Thomas Rich's School admissions policy 2027

2027 entry

Information booklet

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools admissions information 2027

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

One shared entrance test for seven grammar schools.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • Verbal skills English · Verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    45–50 min
  • Mathematics and non-verbal reasoning Maths · Non-verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    45–50 min

What the test includes

  • EnglishComprehension and vocabulary.
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
Official test guidance
Changes for 2028 entry
2028 entry · Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE)

The FSCE test moves to the summer term of Year 5, on 3 July 2027.

Registration opens at noon on 8 February and closes at noon on 19 March 2027.

Adventure uses English and maths multiple choice; Beacon uses short written English and maths answers; Compass assesses wider KS2 learning.

Official 2028 guidance ↗

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Gloucestershire test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Registration opens

    18 May 2026

    Past

    Opens at 12 noon.

  2. Registration closes

    26 June 2026

    Past

    Closes at 12 noon.

  3. Gloucestershire entrance test

    12 September 2026

    Past

  4. Results issued

    In time for the 31 October 2026 CAF deadline

  5. CAF deadline

    31 October 2026

    Past

  6. National Allocation Day

    1 March 2027

  7. Open day and evening

    15 October 2026

    Past

    For Years 5 and 6; register through the school website.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the 2027 admissions policy

    Use the school policy for PAN, priority groups and rank-order allocation.

    Read policy
  2. 2

    Register for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test

    Registration runs from 12 noon on 18 May 2026 to 12 noon on 26 June 2026.

    View booklet
  3. 3

    Sit the entrance test

    The entrance test takes place on 12 September 2026.

    View test information
  4. 4

    Submit the local authority application

    Name the school on the CAF by 31 October 2026.

    View application guidance

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Sir Thomas Rich's School admissions policy 2027

2027 entry

Information booklet

Gloucestershire Grammar Schools admissions information 2027

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 7 October 2021

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Sir Thomas Rich's carries a Good overall judgement in the evidence, while the 2025 report extract describes strong standards for achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, with safeguarding standards met.
  • Quality of education: Pupils were reported to progress significantly well through a well-ordered, ambitious curriculum. Planned checks help deepen knowledge, teachers connect ideas clearly, disadvantaged pupils achieve as well as peers, and students progress successfully to further study, training or apprenticeships.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Attendance was high and leaders tracked it systematically, adding support where pupils struggled. Behaviour reflected self-regulation, respect and pride: routines were calm, pupils moved punctually from lunch to lessons, and social time included sport, rehearsals and chess.
  • Personal development: The available evidence shows pupils contributing positively to school life through mature conduct, mentoring from older pupils and purposeful social activities. It also notes strong preparation for sixth form, higher education, apprenticeships and other next steps.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders used attendance information intelligently and checked curriculum quality astutely, using what they learned to shape staff professional development. Safeguarding standards were met, with an open culture where responsibilities are understood and concerns are managed.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does STRS use?

For September 2027 entry, STRS uses Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to STRS?

1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Use the school policy for PAN, priority groups and rank-order allocation. 2. Register for the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' Entrance Test: Registration runs from 12 noon on 18 May 2026 to 12 noon on 26 June 2026. 3. Sit the entrance test: The entrance test takes place on 12 September 2026. 4. Submit the local authority application: Name the school on the CAF by 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for STRS?

Registration opens: 18 May 2026. Registration closes: 26 June 2026. Gloucestershire entrance test: 12 September 2026. Results issued: In time for the 31 October 2026 CAF deadline. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National Allocation Day: 1 March 2027. Open day and evening: 15 October 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for STRS?

STRS is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 7 October 2021.