Ruislip High School

About Ruislip High School

Ruislip High School is a mixed state secondary in Hillingdon that is heavily oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 1,026 applications for just 196 places, an oversubscription ratio of 5.23, with 275 families putting it as their first preference. It currently has 1,283 pupils on roll, very close to its official capacity of 1,300, so it is effectively full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 18%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools but not unusually high for a London borough. The school is non-denominational and has no religious character, so its appeal is broad across the local community. It operates an 11-18 age range and includes a sixth form, meaning most students can stay on site for their post-16 studies. The headteacher is Gareth Davies, who leads a school that has held an Outstanding rating from Ofsted since at least its 2011 inspection.

Academically, Ruislip High School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year is 0.62, which is significantly higher than the Hillingdon local authority average of 0.06 and places the school 6th out of 23 state secondaries in the borough. The Attainment 8 score is 54.1, and 74.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school is particularly strong on the EBacc measure, with 39.7% of pupils entering the EBacc and 33.3% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023, the school received Outstanding across all five graded categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.22, rated as above average, with students averaging a C+ grade per entry and 34.38 points per entry.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, gymnastics, martial arts, rugby, and cricket among the options, and there are also clubs for coding, Model UN, chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With an Outstanding Ofsted rating, strong Progress 8 scores, and heavy oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who prioritise academic rigour and want a well-established, high-performing state option in the Hillingdon area. It is one of only four Outstanding-rated secondaries in the borough, and the nearest other Outstanding school is Vyners School, 3.8 km away.

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