Thomas Hall School
Exeter, EX4 5AD · Devon · all-through school
Check the area around this school
38th of 40 secondary schools in Devon we can score, 41 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.4/10 against 690 of them, against 2.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.3 · 30 | 30% | 0.92 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.27 · 30 | 25% | 0.74 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.4 · 10 | 10% | 0.10 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thomas Hall School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 25.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in May 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Peripatetic Music and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, participate in the Exmoor Challenge and 10 Tors, and attend an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 438 pupils against a stated capacity of 720. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific actions are being taken to address the 2024 inspection findings? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Thomas Hall School
Overview
The report states that the school’s overall effectiveness is ‘Requires improvement’, reflecting challenges in attendance, behaviour, and leadership. However, it highlights a ‘caring and inclusive culture’ where pupils feel a strong sense of belonging, and notes that personal development and early years provision are ‘Good’.
Strengths
- Staff provide a ‘caring and inclusive culture’ where pupils, including those with challenging backgrounds, feel happy and supported.
- The curriculum is ‘broad’ and ‘well planned’, with an ‘ambitious’ early years programme that effectively develops language and numeracy.
- Personal, social and health education (PSHE) is ‘well structured’, helping pupils discuss challenging topics with maturity and feel prepared for their next steps.
- Recent improvements in phonics teaching have made pupils ‘more confident in sounding out and blending’.
- Trust leaders are now providing ‘strong support’, and staff feel supported despite high workloads during accelerated change.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure guidance for pupils with SEND is ‘clearly defined’ so staff can adapt learning meaningfully, as current targets are generic.
- Leaders must evaluate attendance data over time to ‘remove barriers to attendance’, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
- The school must ensure the curriculum is ‘well understood and planned’ so staff can implement it confidently, especially in subjects undergoing recent changes.
- Professional training for leaders must be effective to ensure all staff have the ‘knowledge and expertise’ needed for their roles.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.3 |
| 2024/25 | 34.6 |
| 2025/26 | 37.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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