Ricards Lodge High School Review 2026: A Girls' School with Outstanding Arts and Academic Strength

Set on the grounds of a historic Victorian manor house in Wimbledon, Ricards Lodge stands as an outstanding girls' comprehensive with a distinctive arts focus. The school was originally founded in 1924 as the Wimbledon Day Commercial School and has occupied its current location on Lake Road since the end of the Second World War. Today, the campus blends heritage buildings with modern learning spaces, creating an environment where academic rigour meets creative confidence. With approximately 1,400 students across Years 7-11, plus a further 300 in the co-educational sixth form (RR6), the school ranks in the top 25% of secondaries in England for GCSE results and serves girls from across Merton and beyond.

Ricards Lodge radiates purposeful calm. Girls move with confidence between lessons, many visibly engaged in their studies and conversations. The school's four core values — Trust, Equality, Resilience and Aspiration — are genuinely embedded in daily life, not merely displayed on walls. Staff clearly know their pupils well; relationships between teachers and students are notably warm and professional.

Kate Page has led the school as headteacher since 2022, following the substantial tenure of Alison Jerrard. Under her leadership, the school continues its trajectory as an institution where high academic expectations coexist with genuine care for individual students. The pastoral structure is meticulous; year managers and form tutors work in close teams to track progress and wellbeing.

The physical environment speaks to the school's identity. The original lodge building, dating from the estate's post-war relocation, houses administrative and specialist spaces. The modern "park block," added in later decades, contains the art, music, drama and humanities departments, linked by a pedestrian bridge. Sports facilities are distributed across the grounds: a tennis court complex (now reduced from the original seven following sixth form construction), an astroturf, a dedicated sports hall and gymnasium.

GCSE Performance

Ricards Lodge achieved an Attainment 8 score of 55 in 2024, well above the England average of 45.9. This metric reflects the school's ability to help students achieve across a broad range of subjects. The Progress 8 score of +0.66 indicates pupils make significantly above-average progress from their starting points, accounting for prior attainment. This finding is particularly important given that the school takes students across the full ability range; it is non-selective.

Approximately 67% of pupils achieved grade 5 or higher in GCSE (a strong pass), with 31% achieving grade 7 or above and 18% reaching grades 8-9. Nearly 40% entered the English Baccalaureate, and 39% achieved grade 5 or higher in these rigorous qualifications, above the England average.

The school ranks 741st in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% nationally and 4th within Merton. This strong but not elite position reflects a school that performs meaningfully above average without the selectivity of grammar schools or the resources of leading independent schools.

Teaching Quality

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and deploy differentiation effectively. In specialist arts subjects — drama, dance, music — attainment is significantly above the national average. English and mathematics, historically the school's focus for improvement, have reached above-average performance thanks to strategic staffing and targeted intervention. The curriculum is ambitious, challenging pupils to think deeply rather than memorise.

A-Level Performance

RR6, the combined sixth form with Rutlish School, operates on both sites with students following split timetables to access both schools' strengths. Ricards Lodge brings arts specialisation and a student-centred pastoral culture; Rutlish provides advanced mathematics and ICT expertise. The sixth form ranks 1,522nd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35% of sixth forms nationally and 7th in Merton.

At A-level, 18% of grades reached A*; 51% achieved A or A*; 43% achieved A*-B. These figures are in line with the England average for A*-B attainment, suggesting that whilst the sixth form provides a solid post-16 pathway, it is not positioned as a selective or highly academic sixth form college.

University Progression

In 2024, 76% of leavers progressed to university, with a further 10% entering employment and small numbers in apprenticeships or further education. Students report securing places at universities including Exeter, Durham and Edinburgh, though specific Russell Group or Oxbridge numbers are not published by the school. The sixth form provides strong pastoral support and weekly enrichment designed to prepare students for independent life after school.

The curriculum is designed to be broad and balanced, meeting the national requirements while extending beyond them. The arts specialism is genuine and visible: not confined to GCSE options, but woven through personal development, enrichment and the ethos of the school. Drama and music are taught to all pupils at Key Stage 3, with dance available as a specialism. This breadth builds confidence and creative thinking skills.

In core subjects, teaching follows structured, scaffolded approaches. Pupils are encouraged to develop independence and take intellectual risks. Assessment methods are varied, designed to support learners of different styles. The school has received recognition for its inclusion of students with SEND, with additional resourced provision for those with speech, language and communication difficulties.

The vast majority of Ricards Lodge pupils continue to the co-educational sixth form RR6, though some move to grammar schools, independent schools or local sixth form colleges. The partnership with Rutlish means sixth form students experience both campuses; they study English and humanities at Ricards, and mathematics, sciences and computing at Rutlish, attending both schools on different days.

Post-sixth form, students progress to a range of universities and into employment. The school maintains strong connections with local employers, universities and cultural organisations, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Ballet School, and All England Lawn Tennis Association. These partnerships enrich curriculum content and provide authentic career exposure.

Arts & Performance

The school's specialist status in the arts is evidenced through its ambitious performance programme. Students have staged regional performances of Shakespeare plays including a production of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" that progressed to the Courtyard Theatre. The Musical Theatre Club recently produced an original student-written show called "Game Over," demonstrating student agency and creative confidence.

The school operates a choir, orchestra and smaller ensembles, with students at different levels of musical experience. Drama productions run throughout the year across multiple venues on campus. The arts faculties occupy the modern park block, housing dedicated spaces for performance, design and rehearsal.

Sport & Physical Activity

Tennis and netball are supported by dedicated courts; rugby, football and other sports use the field and astroturf. The sports hall and gymnasium provide year-round facilities for basketball, gymnastics and indoor activities. An accessible and inclusive sports culture emphasises participation alongside competitive representation, though the school notably trains Wimbledon Tennis Championships ball girls each year.

Clubs & Leadership Pathways

Students access a wide range of clubs operating at lunchtime, after school and weekends. Named activities include the Debate Club, STEM Club, Art Club, Musical Theatre Club, Dance Club, Drama Club and various sports teams. Beyond academic clubs, the Peer Outreach Programme trains student mentors to support younger pupils. The Junior Leadership Team (JLT) empowers senior students as Youth Ambassadors, while the School Council ensures pupil voice shapes school decisions.

Cultural Ambassadors, International Women's Day group members and Wellbeing Representatives round out leadership opportunities. Students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, with programmes up to Gold level. Additionally, selected students serve as Merton Young Advisors, contributing to local authority decision-making.

Trips & Visits

Residential trips within the UK support curriculum learning. Overseas visits extend to France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The sixth form organises volunteer expeditions with Camps International to Tanzania, Peru, Borneo and Kenya during summer holidays, lasting up to a month. Local cultural visits to London's museums, galleries, theatres and Parliament enrich learning in humanities and arts.

The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 3.21 applications per place in recent years. Year 7 entry is coordinated by Merton Council; families apply through standard admissions procedures with no entrance test or specific academic selection. Approximately 240 places are available in Year 7.

The last distance offered in recent admissions cycles has been approximately 1.61 miles, reflecting both demand and the school's position as a popular choice within Merton. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families should verify current admissions criteria with Merton Council and the school directly.

The school has additionally resourced provision for students with speech, language and communication difficulties; these places are reserved for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school.

The school's pastoral structure is thorough. Every pupil is assigned to a form tutor who knows them well and tracks their academic progress, wellbeing and behaviour. Year managers oversee each cohort, coordinating support and intervention. The school delivers age-appropriate personal development through PSHE, covering topics such as online safety, healthy relationships and managing emotions.

Staff are trained to recognise mental health concerns and safeguarding issues. Trained counsellors are available, and the school works with external agencies where needed. Behaviour is managed through a restorative approach; the school recognises and celebrates good conduct and achievement alongside addressing poor choices. Pupils report feeling safe; the school's safe culture is a notable strength.

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. Transport is readily accessible via local buses and proximity to Wimbledon District Line station. The school is situated in a school safety zone with restricted vehicle access at certain times; families are advised to check current restrictions with Merton Council.

School uniform is compulsory and includes navy and red; current sixth form students wear sixth form-specific dress codes. Lunch is provided on site. Music tuition, school trips and specialist activities incur additional costs, which families should confirm directly with the school office.

Oversubscription and distance. The school attracts significantly more applications than places available. Unless your address falls within the last distance offered (approximately 1.61 miles in recent years), securing a place cannot be assumed. Distances vary annually, so verify with the admissions team before planning property decisions.

Arts specialism requires genuine interest. While the arts focus is genuinely woven through the curriculum and pastoral life, the school is not solely for arts enthusiasts. However, pupils who are uncomfortable with drama, music and dance as core curriculum elements may find the school's culture at odds with their preferences. The school is not selective academically; pupil ability ranges from lower to higher achievement.

Sixth form partnership model. The sixth form operates across two sites in partnership with Rutlish (a boys' school). Whilst this provides breadth of subjects and creates a co-educational community, it means sixth formers spend part of their week on another campus and do not experience single-site sixth form life. This suits some students and may not suit others.

Ricards Lodge is an outstanding comprehensive school that educates girls within a secure, purposeful community. Academic results are consistently above average, achievement is celebrated, and the arts are genuinely embedded in school life rather than peripheral. The school combines high expectations with genuine care; students report feeling known, supported and challenged. Best suited to girls whose families value a girls-only secondary education with strong pastoral care, above-average results and a distinctive creative character. The main barrier is entry: competition for places is keen and distance-based allocation means many families cannot secure a place despite the school's appeal. For those within the last distance offered, however, Ricards Lodge offers educational quality that rivals more selective alternatives.