Richard Challoner School
112%
Capacity
1,078
Pupils
4.0x
Demand
About Richard Challoner School
Richard Challoner School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 597 applications for just 150 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.98. Of those applicants, 196 put it as their first preference, and 136 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among parents, though the school does not publish a formal parent-view recommendation score. The school is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it currently has 1,078 pupils on roll, which is above its official capacity of 966. It is one of five schools in Kingston upon Thames rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent inspection in 2022 gave top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.
Academically, Richard Challoner performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.84 is significantly higher than the Kingston upon Thames average of 0.66, and the school ranks 5th out of 10 schools in the borough. Nationally, it sits in the top 6% of schools for Progress 8. In the 2023/24 exams, 91.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 62.1% achieved the English Baccalaureate at that level. The Attainment 8 score was 58.8, and the EBacc average point score was 5.52. At A-level, the school's value-added score was -0.08, which is rated as average, with students achieving an average of C+ per entry. The sixth form is relatively large, with 136 pupils in the cohort, and 18.7% achieved at least AAB in two facilitating subjects.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, art studios, a sixth form centre, an astro turf pitch, tennis courts, and a chapel. Sports on offer include rowing, swimming, athletics, and football, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to Model UN and debate. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder, with a dedicated SEN unit and resourced provision. The school is oversubscribed, so families will need to apply early and meet the faith-based admissions criteria. It suits families who want a high-performing, academically ambitious boys' school with a strong Catholic ethos and a well-regarded sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Manor Drive North, New Malden, Kingston upon Thames, KT3 5PE |
| Headteacher | Sean Maher |
| Local Authority | Kingston upon Thames |
| Number of Pupils | 1,078 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,078 / 966 (112% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.84)
167th of 3,141
Nationally
71st of 487
In London
5th of 10
In Kingston upon Thames
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
37.8
'22/23
36.6
'23/24
34.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 137 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Other education1%
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.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
597
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
196 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British44.5%
- White (other)20.2%
- Asian12.2%
- Mixed12.1%
- Black0.6%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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 Richard Challoner School
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
Manor Drive North, New Malden
Kingston upon Thames, KT3 5PE
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 Richard Challoner School!
Write a Review