Classpot

Waldegrave School

Richmond upon Thames, TW2 5LHSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Oct 2024
Progress 8
+0.78
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
288 1st-choice / 215 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#207 of 3,141 nationally

About Waldegrave School

Waldegrave School’s Progress 8 score of 0.78 sits well above the Richmond upon Thames local authority average of 0.41, placing it third out of twelve secondary schools in the borough. That gap is significant — roughly two-thirds of a grade more progress per subject than the typical pupil in the area. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially ‘Well above average’, and it ranks in the top 7% nationally. Within London, it sits 84th out of 487 schools. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 215 places in 2025/26, it received 845 applications, with 288 first-preference choices and 181 offers going to first-preference families. That’s an oversubscription ratio of nearly 4:1, which tells you demand is fierce. The school is also one of five Outstanding-rated secondaries in Richmond upon Thames, a status it has maintained since its most recent graded inspection in 2018, with an ungraded visit in October 2024 confirming standards are still being kept up.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressFifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Richmond upon Thames, TW2 5LH
HeadteacherElizabeth Tongue
Local AuthorityRichmond upon Thames
Number of Pupils1,467
Free School Meals (FSM)9.6%
School Capacity1,467 / 1,246 (118% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 336 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

16 Oct 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (16 Oct 2024): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 24 Oct 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Art StudiosMusic RoomsGymnasiumSwimming PoolAstro TurfSports HallSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

NetballRowingCricketSwimmingRoundersTennisCross CountryMartial ArtsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DramaArt ClubDuke of EdinburghBook ClubChessScience ClubModel United NationsDebateNewspaperOrchestra

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningResourced ProvisionMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Waldegrave School

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