The Reach Free School
Free schools secondary school in Rickmansworth (Hertfordshire).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
A Warm Welcome to The Reach Free School at The Reach Free School, we believe that a happy, supportive community is the perfect foundation for academic excellence. We inspire a genuine love of learning in our pupils, setting ambitious targets within our modern facilities to help them discover their full potential.
This blend of high-quality teaching and a personalised approach creates the wonderfully cohesive environment you'll find here. But don't just take my word for it; our doors are always open for you to see the amazing things our pupils achieve every day. Everything we do is guided by our simple but powerful ethos: ACE.
Achievement: We celebrate success in all its forms, from the classroom to final examinations. Community: In our smaller-than-average school, strong friendships are built, and every pupil feels known and valued. Enjoyment: We believe that learning should be engaging, and through a wide range of opportunities we offer, we make the school experience enjoyable.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
11 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Cricket
- Dance
- Drama
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Karate
- Rounders
- Rugby
- Taekwondo
- Oak National Academy
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
Key facts
- URN
- 139662
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Constituency
- South West Hertfordshire
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2013
Governing body (16 current, 5 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.17 governors are linked to a profile (all confirmed).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Carolyn Venn Confirmed same person | Chair of TrusteesTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Ms Claire Suzanne Adby Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Diana Patricia Culliton Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Dr David Rhys Sherratt Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Natalie Simpson-Booth | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2025 |
| Mr Matthew William Southworth Cawthorne Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Miss Priyadharshini Shanthakumar Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr David John Spencer Compton Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Kerry Ballantyne Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Miss Allyssa Jane Gregory Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Sarfraz Ahmed Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Jennie Rebecca Simmonite Confirmed same person | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Richard Booth Confirmed same person | Accounting OfficerTrust officer | since 2013 | |
| Mr Martyn Essery Confirmed same person | Chief Financial OfficerTrust officer | since 2013 | |
| Mr Mark Sutton Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2012 |
| Mrs Carolyn Venn Confirmed same person | MemberTrust members | Appointed by academy members | since 2012 |
| Mrs Carolyn Venn Confirmed same person Former | Chair of TrusteesTrust board | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Claire Suzanne Adby Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Appointed by academy members | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Eyal Hartal Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Sam Robinson Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by school staff | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Miss Carla da Silva Confirmed same person Former | TrusteeTrust board | Elected by school staff | since 2021 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record