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Ricards Lodge High School

Merton, SW19 7HBSecondaryAges 11–19GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Sep 2023
Progress 8
+0.66
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
232 1st-choice / 254 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#319 of 3,141 nationally

About Ricards Lodge High School

Ricards Lodge High School is a girls’ secondary school in Merton that is running very close to capacity, with 1,476 pupils against a school capacity of 1,500. The school serves a notably diverse intake: 24.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national secondary average of around 23% and signals a genuinely comprehensive catchment. Demand for places is extremely high — for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 815 applications for 254 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.21. Of those, 232 families put Ricards Lodge as their first preference, and 179 first-preference offers were made, meaning a significant number of families who wanted a place didn’t get one. The school is one of five Outstanding-rated secondaries in Merton, and its closest Outstanding neighbour is Harris Academy Wimbledon, 2.1 km away. For families considering this school, the admissions data makes clear that securing a place is competitive, and it’s worth noting that the school has a sixth form, so pupils can stay on through to 18.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressLake Road, London, Merton, SW19 7HB
HeadteacherKate Page
Local AuthorityMerton
Number of Pupils1,476
Free School Meals (FSM)24.9%
School Capacity1,476 / 1,500 (98% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

14 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (14 Sept 2023): School remains Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 12 Dec 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

14
Playing FieldsTheatreGymnasiumICT SuiteLibraryDining HallScience LabsMusic RoomsSports HallTennis CourtsSwimming PoolAstro TurfChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

Cross CountryNetballSwimmingCricketGymnasticsHockeyRugbyBadmintonFootballMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

ChessBook ClubEco ClubDebateNewspaperOrchestraChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ricards Lodge High School

Ricards Lodge High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.