Lift Richmond Park
London, SW14 8RG · Richmond upon Thames · secondary school
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8th of 11 secondary schools in Richmond upon Thames we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 9.1/10 against 760 of them, against 8.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 58.3 · 79 | 30% | 2.37 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.49 · 83 | 25% | 2.08 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 51.8 · 77 | 10% | 0.77 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lift Richmond Park overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023. In 2024/25, 66.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 56.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.49 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,046 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific opportunities exist for students to develop skills beyond the core curriculum? How does the admissions process work for the upcoming entry year?
What Ofsted said about Lift Richmond Park
Overview
Richmond Park Academy continues to be a good school, where pupils feel happy, safe, and valued within a caring community. Leaders set high expectations for all students, fostering strong relationships and a positive attitude towards learning. The curriculum is ambitious and logically planned, ensuring pupils gain knowledge and skills over time.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit excellent behaviour, showing respect to peers and adults, with bullying dealt with quickly if it occurs.
- The curriculum is ambitious for all, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with sixth-form teachers building on prior knowledge.
- Reading is promoted effectively, with early identification of difficulties and targeted support programmes helping pupils become confident readers.
- Staff receive effective training and support, particularly regarding SEND strategies, and value professional development opportunities that help reduce workload.
- Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain, receiving sound careers advice and learning about relationships and respecting difference.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure teaching consistently checks that pupils have fully grasped previously learned content, as some do not remember prior learning in depth.
- Leaders should ensure all staff have the expertise to make tasks manageable for pupils with SEND, as some currently do not fully understand their work.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff trained to identify concerns quickly and a supportive culture encouraging pupils to share worries.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 56.9 |
| 2024/25 | 56.1 |
| 2025/26 | 51.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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