Lift Richmond Park
94%
Capacity
1,039
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Lift Richmond Park
Lift Richmond Park is a mixed state secondary in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, and its intake data tells a story of a school in clear demand. With 1,039 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,100, it is operating very close to full, and the oversubscription picture is striking: for 272 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 495 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.82. Only 110 first-preference offers were made, meaning competition for a place is real. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.7%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools (around 23-24%) and suggests a genuinely mixed socioeconomic intake. This is not a school drawing from a uniformly affluent catchment; it serves a broad cross-section of families, and the demand signals indicate that parents across the borough see it as a strong option.
Academically, Lift Richmond Park delivers results that sit comfortably above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.49 is well ahead of the Richmond upon Thames LA average of +0.41, meaning pupils here make significantly more progress than those in similar schools nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 56.9 translates to an average grade just below a strong pass across eight subjects, and 81.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also pushes the English Baccalaureate: 68.3% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and 48.4% achieved the benchmark grade 5 or above in it. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score of -0.09 is rated as average, and the average points per entry of 33.08 equates to a C+ grade. The sixth form is relatively small, with 59 pupils in the cohort, and 19.1% achieved at least AAB in two facilitating subjects.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including science labs, art studios, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and an astro turf pitch, plus sports such as swimming, rugby, and tennis. Its SEND provisions are broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs, which suggests a genuinely inclusive approach. The school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since at least its 2012 inspection, and its most recent ungraded inspection in December 2022 confirmed it remains Good. For families who want a large, oversubscribed comprehensive with strong academic progress, a diverse intake, and a proper sixth form, Lift Richmond Park is a pragmatic choice — especially if you live within its catchment and are prepared to compete for a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Park Avenue, London, Richmond upon Thames, SW14 8RG |
| Headteacher | James Whelan |
| Local Authority | Richmond upon Thames |
| Number of Pupils | 1,039 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,039 / 1,100 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Dec 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jan 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.49)
524th of 3,141
Nationally
172nd of 487
In London
6th of 12
In Richmond upon Thames
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.7
'22/23
28.3
'23/24
33.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2344%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 149 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)44%
- FE college30%
- Sixth form college16%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 58 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
17%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)64%
- Employment14%
- Other education5%
- Not sustained5%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics19
- Biology16
- Chemistry13
- Economics13
- Physics12
- Psychology9
- Computer Studies / Computing8
- Government and Politics8
- Geography7
- History5
- Mathematics (Further)5
- English Literature4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed272
495
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
110 families put this school as their 1st choice (22% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British40.5%
- White (other)18.2%
- Mixed14.9%
- Asian9.2%
- Black1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lift Richmond Park
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Park Avenue, London
Richmond upon Thames, SW14 8RG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Lift Richmond Park!
Write a Review