Waldegrave School

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.

Academically, the numbers are strong across the board. At KS4, the Attainment 8 score is 64, and 93% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 74.6% hitting grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 5.82, and 60.1% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. The school’s Progress 8 breakdown shows particularly strong progress in English (1.0) and open subjects (1.02), with maths progress lower at 0.21. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.22, with a progress banding of ‘Above average’. The average points per entry is 40, equivalent to a B grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B as well. 22% of entries achieved at least an AAB. The sixth form is rated Outstanding in its own right. Parent View responses are overwhelmingly positive: 93% of the 336 respondents would recommend the school, and 92% strongly agree or agree that their child is happy there.

The school operates from a site that includes a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. There’s a chapel on site too. Sports on offer include rowing, netball, cricket, tennis, and martial arts, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model UN to orchestra and debate. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision attached. 21% of responding parents said their child has SEND, and 80% of those agreed the school gives them the support they need. With 9.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school is slightly below the national average for disadvantage, but the academic outcomes suggest it’s performing well for all its pupils. This is a school for families who want high academic standards, a wide range of enrichment, and are prepared to compete for a place.

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