Rutlish School
99%
Capacity
1,491
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Rutlish School
If you're a parent considering Rutlish School, the feedback from other families is a good place to start. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period up to September 2025, a striking 92% of the 167 respondents said they would recommend the school. That's a very strong signal. Digging into the detail, 93% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 94% felt their child is safe. The school is clearly popular locally, too: for entry in 2025/26, it received 752 applications for 260 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.89 to one. Of those, 250 families put it as their first choice, and 201 of those were offered a place. It's a boys' state secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it's one of only five schools in Merton rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Academically, Rutlish is performing well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.68 is the third highest among the eight mainstream secondary schools in Merton, and it sits comfortably above the local authority average of 0.63. That score is banded as 'Well above average' nationally. At GCSE, 80.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score per pupil was 55.2. The school also encourages a broad curriculum, with 57.6% of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate. In the sixth form, the picture is solid rather than spectacular: the average A-level grade per entry was a B-, with a points score of 35.15 per entry, and the value-added score of 0.11 is rated as 'Average'. Ofsted's most recent inspection in September 2024 gave top marks across the board, with Outstanding ratings for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and the sixth form.
Rutlish is a large school, with 1,491 pupils on roll, very close to its capacity of 1,500. It offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There's a strong extracurricular programme, with clubs ranging from Model UN and Debate to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. The school also has a resourced provision and lists support for a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication, and physical disability. With 22.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a genuinely mixed intake. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, oversubscribed boys' school with a strong sense of community, excellent Ofsted grades, and a sixth form that keeps pupils on site. Given the competition for places, it's one to visit early and put high on your list.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Watery Lane, London, Merton, SW20 9AD |
| Headteacher | Laura Howarth |
| Local Authority | Merton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,491 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,491 / 1,500 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Sept 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Oct 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.68)
302nd of 3,141
Nationally
114th of 487
In London
3rd of 8
In Merton
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
40.0
'22/23
35.3
'23/24
35.1
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
2022/2372%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 233 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)72%
- FE college17%
- Sixth form college3%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment1%
96% 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
2022/2381%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 111 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
17%
Russell Group
19%
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)81%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Mathematics43
- Sociology41
- History35
- English Literature19
- Computer Studies / Computing18
- Economics17
- Geography17
- Physics17
- Psychology17
- Biology15
- Chemistry15
- Mathematics (Further)15
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.
Ofsted Parent View
167 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed260
752
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
250 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British32.3%
- Asian28.0%
- White (other)16.3%
- Mixed12.5%
- Black0.9%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
15
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
11
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 Rutlish 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
Watery Lane, London
Merton, SW20 9AD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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