Reach Academy Feltham Review 2026: Outstanding State School with Distinctive All-Through Model

Reach Academy Feltham opened in 2012 when founders Rebecca Cramer, Ed Vainker and Jon McGoh recognised potential where others saw challenge. In a deprived area of west London, they established something that felt audacious at the time: a small, non-selective, all-through free school from ages 2 to 18 that would later receive an Outstanding Ofsted rating in all six categories. The school occupies a single site with just 60 pupils per year group, a deliberate constraint that enables the personalisation and continuity most schools abandon at age 11 or 16. In September 2024, Ofsted judged Reach Academy Feltham as Outstanding for Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, Early Years provision, and Sixth Form provision. These are not tick-box grades but reflections of daily practice. Every pupil advances from Reception at age 4 through to Year 13 in the same building, with the same staff knowing them across a decade of growth. For families in Hounslow seeking a genuine alternative to the selectivity of grammar schools or the scale of traditional comprehensives, this is a serious education.

The physical site tells the story. Co-headteachers Matilda Browne (Primary) and Manjit More (Secondary) lead a school that uses every square inch intentionally: a roof-top pitch for PE, a four-court sports hall, specialist science laboratories, dedicated suites for music, drama, art and food technology. The building is smaller than other state secondaries, but it has been configured with pupils in mind.

The school's published values — Reflect, Endeavour, Aspiration, Courage, Have Fun — are not decorative. During the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted observed that pupils conduct themselves with maturity and deep respect for others, behaviours learned early and practiced consistently. Students demonstrate confidence speaking to adults, yet without the pressure many high-performing schools impose. The Ofsted report noted specifically that there are "high-quality learning opportunities within a culture of care," a phrase that captures something essential about the place: ambition coupled with genuine warmth.

The all-through structure removes several conventional pressure points. Children do not experience the disorientation of moving to a large secondary with 1,500 pupils. Older pupils naturally mentor younger ones, creating a multi-age fabric. Year 13 students model behaviour for Reception children they have watched grow up. This continuity enables staff to understand each pupil's full trajectory, intervening early when support is needed and extending those ready for challenge. For families, the consistency is tangible. A parent with three children in the school might encounter the same form tutor across six years, a rarity in English education.

Primary Performance (Key Stage 2)

Reach Academy Feltham ranks 334th in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 2% of schools nationally. Locally, the school ranks 5th among Hounslow primaries. In 2024, 96% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared to the England average of 62%. Reading scaled scores averaged 110 (England average: 100) and mathematics 109 (England average: 101), indicating stronger than average performance across both subjects. Grammar, punctuation and spelling showed the strongest attainment, with 73% of pupils achieving the higher standard — significantly above the England average of approximately 8%, confirming that phonics is systematised here, not left to chance.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE, the school ranks 945th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it firmly in the top 25% of state schools. Locally, it ranks 9th in Hounslow. The 2024 cohort achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 54.4, and 43% of pupils achieved grades 5 and above across the English Baccalaureate subjects. The Progress 8 score of +0.94 indicates that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points.

Almost half of all GCSE grades awarded in 2024 were grade 7 or above. In 2025, the school celebrated its highest ever number of grade 9s, with particular success in English and Mathematics. This trajectory is meaningful for a non-selective school drawing from a catchment that includes significant disadvantage.

A-Level Performance

Feltham College, the sixth form operating within the school since September 2022, achieved Outstanding status in the 2024 inspection. A-level results in 2025 reached unprecedented standards, with an unprecedented 41% of grades awarded at A or A*—15% higher than the school's previous best. Over 50% of grades in Further Mathematics, English Literature and Psychology reached A/A* standard. The school ranks 588th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% nationally and 4th locally in Hounslow.

University destinations are strong. In 2024, 50% of Feltham College leavers progressed to Russell Group universities. The school secured one Oxbridge acceptance (Cambridge) in the measured cohort, and 84% of those attending university progressed to top-third universities, indicating consistent targeting of selective institutions.

The curriculum here is deliberately ambitious. Ofsted noted the school offers a "highly ambitious curriculum for everyone," and staff subject knowledge was described as "excellent." The backwards-planned, cross-phase structure means that curriculum design begins with age 18 outcomes and spirals backwards, ensuring coherence from nursery through to sixth form. This prevents the fragmentation that occurs when primary and secondary operate as separate institutions.

Reading is treated as foundational. The phonics approach is expert and consistent, with Year 1 pupils receiving specialist instruction that builds rapidly towards fluency. By Year 2, 90% of pupils are working at expected standard or above in reading. This early intervention model means that gaps do not compound.

The school integrates digital literacy without surrendering traditional skills. A deliberate choice bans mobile phones from the school day, creating protected thinking space. One founder documented that children today need "minimal distractions and maximum joy in learning"—and the school structures accordingly. Lessons emphasise depth over pace; a pupil might spend a term on a single historical period, developing genuine understanding rather than rushing through content. In sixth form, A‑level teaching draws on partnerships with two independent schools — Lady Eleanor Holles and Hampton School — bringing external expertise and stretch. BTEC vocational courses are offered alongside A-levels with equal status and esteem.

For primary pupils, the majority progress to Reach Academy Feltham secondary. The continuity is seamless; there is no entrance exam or selection at Year 7. Many of the two-form entry pupils simply move upstairs.

For GCSE leavers, approximately half progress to Feltham College sixth form. The other half leave for external sixth forms or colleges, including Logic Studio School and general FE provision. The small size of Feltham College (initially around 95 students, with annual growth) means not all courses are offered, and some pupils seek broader A-level choice elsewhere. The school provides clear guidance on these transitions rather than pressure to stay.

For sixth form leavers, Russell Group universities dominate the destination profile. In 2024, 50% secured places at Russell Group institutions. Specific named destinations include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, Durham, Edinburgh and Bristol. The vocational BTEC route is equally supported; degree apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships represent material pathways for students not choosing university.

Enrichment is central to the school's philosophy, not peripheral. The intent is explicit: to broaden aspirations, foster cultural capital, and build character through structured experience beyond the curriculum. All clubs are free except martial arts, a deliberate decision to ensure financial barriers do not prevent access.

Sports & Physical Activity

The four-court sports hall serves as home base for competitive teams. The roof-top pitch hosts PE for all year groups. Pupils compete in football, basketball, netball, and athletics, with representation at local and district level. Sports clubs draw on competitive as well as recreational models; the school believes achievement and participation both matter.

Enrichment & Residential Trips

Residentials begin in Year 3 and escalate through the school. Students participate in extended stays in the UK and abroad, visit universities to inform future choices, and complete the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. By the time pupils leave, they will have visited at least two different countries, experienced social action projects, and developed independence through structured challenge. The Year 4 West End theatre trip exposes pupils to cultural capital and career pathways. Year 6 residential trips include university visits and team-building expeditions. Secondary residentials broaden further, extending internationally.

Clubs & Societies

Beyond the named competitive teams, the school offers breadth. Mock Trial competition exposes students to law and debate. Duke of Edinburgh develops leadership and self-reliance across three levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold). Community Action days see pupils volunteer at local care homes, supermarkets and special needs schools, embedding the value of service. Additional enrichment includes music ensembles, drama productions, and peer mentoring schemes. Lower school pupils have access to JAG (Junior Adventures Group) for supervised wrap-around care, extending the school day and enrichment seamlessly.

Sixth Form Provision: Feltham College

Feltham College opened in September 2022 as an innovative partnership between Reach Academy, Hampton School and Lady Eleanor Holles (two leading independent schools). The sixth form operates from dedicated town-centre facilities with restaurant, café, music rehearsal rooms and production studios, allowing vocational students real-world work experience. Academic courses in English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, French, Spanish and Psychology are taught to A-level standard. BTEC Level 3 courses in Health and Social Care and Business provide alternative pathways with equal status. Mixed pathway students can combine A-Level and BTEC qualifications.

External partnerships deepen provision. Kingston University and East London Arts & Music Academy support vocational music pathways. Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust enable health sector placements. Award-winning restaurateur Jacob Kenedy provides catering and hospitality expertise. This ecosytem means A-level and vocational learners graduate with industry connections, not just grades.

Reach Academy Feltham is non-selective and fully oversubscribed. In 2024, over 1,000 families applied for 120 Reception places (60 per year group, across two forms). Admissions are coordinated by Hounslow Council through the normal coordinated admissions process. The deadline for primary applications is 15 January 2026; families must apply through the Hounslow Common Application Form.

After looked-after children, priority goes to nursery pupils eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium, then to pupils whose families are eligible for the Pupil Premium (16 of the 60 places reserved). Remaining places are allocated by distance from the school gates. Attending the school's nursery does not guarantee a place in Reception; all places follow the published admissions criteria.

For secondary entry, pupils already at primary automatically progress to Year 7 without re-application. Sixth form entry is subject to specific A-level subject requirements, published on the school website and Feltham College website. The school does not select by GCSE grade; character, effort and attendance are weighted.

Hounslow Council coordinates sixth form applications. Entry requirements vary by subject; typically, GCSE grade 5 (strong pass) is expected, though some subjects set grade 6 requirements. The college accepts both internal (Reach Academy Year 11) and external applicants. In 2024, external applications were competitive, reflecting the college's growing reputation.

The school is a member of the Wellbeing Hub and Place2Be, reflecting explicit commitment to mental health. Class teachers remain consistent across multiple years; a pupil's form tutor provides continuity and knows their wider family context. Peer mentoring schemes pair older pupils with younger cohorts, embedding mutual support. Behaviour is managed consistently using a structure that emphasizes respect and maturity rather than punishment. The 2024 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils learn early to conduct themselves well and treat peers with respect.

Sixth form students model positive behaviour to the entire school and are taught to feel optimistic about their futures. For students with additional needs, specialist support is available. The school website confirms that pupils with SEND receive effective support ensuring significant progress. Safeguarding is embedded; the school prioritises protection alongside development.

Transition support is comprehensive. Home visits before entry allow staff to build relationships before the school year begins. Induction programmes are staged, not rushed. For sixth form, induction includes university mentoring and careers guidance from day one. The careers programme, described as "very strong" by external review, begins early (Key Stage 3) and deepens as pupils age.

School hours are 8:50am to 3:20pm for most pupils. Wraparound care is available: breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school club until 6pm. Holiday childcare operates during school holidays through Reach Play. The nursery operates alongside the main school (ages 2-4).

Transport links are reasonable for west London. The school is located at 53-55 High Street, Feltham, postcode TW13 4AB. Parking on-site is limited; nearby residential streets offer free parking and The Centre car park in Feltham charges a fee. The nearest stations are Feltham (District Line, about 10-15 minutes walk) and Hounslow (smaller station, further).

For specific information about wraparound care, holiday clubs and school meals, visit the school website. School uniform is required; details are available through admissions. Most books and resources are provided by school. Families are asked to contribute to trips and residentials based on ability to pay; the school operates a hardship bursary scheme ensuring no pupil misses an educational visit due to cost.

Extreme oversubscription at primary level. With over 1,000 applications for 120 places, demand far exceeds supply. Families without proximity to the school gates face very low odds of admission. Once a child is in the system, sibling priority applies, but first entry is highly competitive. This is a realistic constraint.

Small sixth form. Feltham College had approximately 95 students at launch and is growing incrementally. Not all A-level subjects are offered; students with highly specific requirements may find breadth limited. External options (Logic Studio School, general FE colleges) sometimes suit students seeking wider subject choice.

Nursery-to-secondary transition uncertainty. Early Years Pupil Premium families receive reception priority, but not all nursery pupils are guaranteed primary places. The school is clear: nursery attendance is not a ticket to reception, though staff do know the children well.

School proximity matters. Distance-based allocation means the school serves a tight catchment. Families moving away from Feltham post-admission face the practical reality that other members of the cohort may live much closer to home; this is not a school that serves sprawling commuter belts.

Reach Academy Feltham is a sustained success story in a historically disadvantaged area. Outstanding Ofsted status across six categories, strong GCSE results and serious sixth form destinations (Russell Group, Oxbridge) combine with tangible teacher warmth and a genuine community feel. The all-through model delivers genuine continuity that is rare in English education. It is genuinely non-selective, drawing from a deprived neighbourhood, yet secures academic outcomes that rival many selective and independent schools.

The main limitation is access. Oversubscription means most families will not secure a place, and distance becomes destiny. For those within the catchment, or with early years provision in the nursery, this is an exceptional opportunity. The school suits families who value relationship-based learning over rapid pace, character development alongside examination success, and community authenticity over prestige branding. If you secure a place, you are genuinely fortunate.