Thomas Hall School Goes From Underperforming to Beating National SATs Average in Three Years
Staff and families at Thomas Hall School in Exeter, part of the Reach South Academy Trust, are celebrating after pupils achieved results above the national average in the latest round of Standard Assessment Tests (SATs).
This achievement demonstrates a remarkable turnaround in the school’s academic performance as, just a few years ago, Thomas Hall was among the most underperforming schools in the country.
This year, their Year 6s recorded impressive scores in reading, writing, and maths, with 67% meeting the expected standard, this is 5% more than the national average. These results also show brilliant progress from 2022 when only 48% of Thomas Hall pupils met the expected standard.
SATs assess English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, reading, and maths. They are used to track pupils’ progress, highlight where extra support may be needed, judge how well schools are performing, and supply data that informs national education policy.
To celebrate their success the Year 6 pupils got to spend a session sponging headteacher, Phil Arnold and they also got taken on a reward trip to Crealy Theme Park for some fun after all their hard work.
SATs are not the only area where Thomas Hall School is showing demonstrable improvement. The number of Year 1 pupils at the school passing their Phonics Screening Check, a statutory assessment designed to test children’s ability to decode words using phonics, now stands at 88%, more than doubling from 41% in 2022.
The phonics screening check tests pupils on 40 items, combining real words with made-up ones, to gauge their decoding skills. Research repeatedly shows that a strong phonics foundation supports long-term literacy and overall academic success.
In addition, Thomas Hall School’s Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check pass rates have jumped from 0% in 2022 to an impressive 75%. The school’s Early Years Foundation Stage Good Level of Development (GLD) has also risen to 82%, up from 78.2% in 2022. In EYFS a GLD is achieved when a child reaches the expected level in specific areas of learning by the end of the reception year, typically age 5.
At Thomas Hall, every child is known and nurtured as an individual. The school’s ethos centres on developing the whole child, academically, socially, and emotionally, ensuring every learner thrives.
Phil Arnold, Headteacher of Thomas Hall School, said:
“These outcomes are nothing short of transformational. I am immensely proud of our community, including our pupils and staff, for the hard work and dedication that have led to these outstanding achievements.
“Our pupils are not only excelling academically but are also developing a profound understanding of their actions on the environment around them. This approach has empowered them to become responsible, informed, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow. Together, we've created a nurturing environment that celebrates individual growth and global awareness, setting our young people on a path to lifelong success and positive impact.”
Thomas Hall School looks forward to welcoming a new reception cohort in September and is scheduling open days for any families interested in joining the school. For more information please contact admissions@thomashallschool.org or call 01392 757371.
