Christ's Church of England Comprehensive Secondary School Review 2026: Strong Community School with Growing Sixth Form Excellence

Over three centuries ago, a group of Richmond citizens led by Queen Anne established a charity school to educate local children in both academic subjects and Christian values. That vision endures today at Christ's, now a thriving comprehensive with over 1,000 students across its secondary and sixth form phases. Situated metres from Richmond Park, Christ's balances academic ambition with a genuine sense of community, reflected in its Ofsted Good rating (2021) and consistently strong GCSE results. The school ranks 834th at GCSE, placing it in the top 25% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking), with sixth form A-level students achieving solid progress despite operating in the highly competitive Richmond education landscape.

The school's Christian foundation remains alive today, though in an inclusive, non-denominatory sense. The chapel bells mark important moments throughout the day. Students describe Christ's as feeling like a large, supportive family, a phrase that appears repeatedly in inspection findings and parent feedback. The 2021 Ofsted report noted that pupils are genuinely happy here and feel very safe.

Leadership has stabilised under Headteacher Mrs Helen Dixon, who provides clear strategic direction grounded in the school's Christian values of love, justice and peace. Staff retention is notably strong, suggesting a workplace where teachers choose to stay and invest in long-term relationships with students. The school's location adjacent to Richmond Park creates a privileged setting that students clearly appreciate, with many mentioning the open green space as part of what makes the school special. For a London comprehensive, the campus feels spacious and purposeful rather than cramped or chaotic.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes place Christ's solidly above England average. In the most recent published results, the average Attainment 8 score stood at 56, compared to the England average of 45.9. This translates to meaningful differences in student achievement: in England, 54% of all GCSE entries hit top grades (9-7), but at Christ's this figure is higher, with Attainment 8 scores reflecting consistently stronger performance across subjects. The school ranks 834th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the top 25% of schools and 15th among Richmond secondary schools. This is a school that consistently delivers results students can be proud of.

Progress 8 scores of 0.31 indicate that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points. This matters because it means Christ's is genuinely adding value, taking students from a range of abilities and helping them progress further than they would typically be expected to. EBacc entries run at 32.2% of the cohort taking qualifications in the humanities and languages, a strong pipeline for students interested in broader academic pathways.

A-Level Performance

At sixth form, A-level results reflect a typical profile for a state comprehensive sixth form. In 2024, 58.8% of all entries achieved A*-B grades, with 10.6% reaching A* and 18.3% securing grade A. The school ranks 701st in England at A-level (FindMySchool ranking), sitting in the middle 35% of schools. Class sizes in the sixth form typically range from 6 to 12 students, with some popular subjects reaching 25, creating a more intimate learning environment than the main school and enabling personalised teaching.

Students here have secured places at Russell Group universities including Durham, Bristol, Exeter and Edinburgh. 65% of the 2023-24 leavers cohort progressed to university, with one student securing an Oxbridge place (Cambridge) out of nine applications.

Teaching follows a structured, knowledge-led curriculum with specialist departments maintaining clear expectations about sequencing and progression. In Key Stage 3, all students receive one hour of drama per week, and the curriculum is deliberately broad, including subjects often squeezed in other schools. The sciences are taught separately; languages begin early and with purpose.

The school has invested in addressing areas identified in the 2021 Ofsted inspection. Inspectors noted that some teachers in Key Stage 3 did not always systematically check for understanding before moving learning forward, resulting in occasional gaps. The school has implemented strategies to tighten this, including department-level review of teaching sequences and emphasis on formative assessment throughout lessons.

Mathematics and English receive particular focus. Entry requirements for the sixth form include minimum grade 7 in Maths and grade 8-9 for Further Maths (grade 5 elsewhere), reflecting the rigour expected at A-level. The Able and Ambitious programme challenges higher-attaining students, while the Learning Support Department ensures those requiring additional help receive structured intervention. SEND provision includes students with EHCPs, and specialist staff work with mainstream classes to support integration.

Secondary Students

The vast majority of Year 11 leavers stay within the Richmond education system or move to selective grammars. The school has a strong track record with 11-plus preparation; approximately 25% of Year 11 pupils secure grammar school places annually, suggesting a culture where such progression is normalised and supported without being coercive. For those not pursuing grammar entry, local non-selective comprehensives and the school's own sixth form remain the primary destinations.

Sixth Form Leavers

The 2023-24 cohort of 79 leavers saw 65% progress to university, with 3% entering further education, 1% beginning apprenticeships, and 19% moving into employment. Beyond Oxbridge, recent destinations include Russell Group universities with strong representation at Durham, Bristol, Exeter and Edinburgh. The school maintains a Careers and Progression Lead positioned specifically within the sixth form, ensuring university guidance is accessible and intensive. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) students develop independent research skills valued by universities, and the school offers a dedicated Personal Statement Writing Workshop.

Sport: Excellence Within Reach

Christ's has established itself as a genuinely outstanding sporting school, earning Gold Sport England Sportsmark Award for five consecutive years. The National Schools Sport Magazine ranked Christ's at 72nd in England out of approximately 4,500 secondary schools, placing it within the top 1.8% for sporting provision and achievements.

Physical activity forms the school's backbone. All students continue core PE throughout secondary, and the extra-curricular programme is genuinely comprehensive. Competitive fixtures run Wednesday afternoons across football, rugby, netball and basketball, with teams competing at local, regional and national levels. The school has reached national finals in basketball and continues to develop sustainable pathways in traditional and emerging sports.

Facilities are exceptional for a comprehensive: a full-size sports hall with gymnastics equipment, four hard courts (tennis and netball), a full-size football and rugby pitch, a state-of-the-art dance suite, table tennis studio, outdoor 400m athletics track with long jump pit, indoor traversing climbing wall and 10m outdoor climbing wall. The school maintains a partnership with Richmond Cricket Club, offering students onsite access to a brand new cricket facility with wicket, outfield and multi-lane batting nets. A-level PE consistently achieves ALPS 2/3 ratings, placing the department in the top 5% in England for A-level results.

Music: Flourishing Ensemble Culture

The music facilities, opened by Sir Tim Rice in 2004, comprise a large performance space, practice rooms and sophisticated music technology equipped with Apple Mac computers running Logic Pro and Sibelius. The department operates an open-door policy at breaks and lunchtimes, resulting in active use of rehearsal spaces throughout the day.

Students participate in multiple ensembles: several school bands compete in Battle of the Bands competitions, with winners headlining the Late Summer Picnic. The school choir performed at the Jack Petchey Awards in Richmond Theatre and has travelled internationally for concert performances. Youth orchestras including Ealing, Thames and Stoneleigh Youth Orchestras attract Christ's musicians, and students access junior departments of London music colleges. The department encourages peripatetic study and subsidises lessons for those facing financial barriers.

Recent highlights include school music videos produced in collaboration with English and Drama departments, and performances in whole-school assemblies and collective worship that integrate music into the school's spiritual life.

Drama: Two Dedicated Spaces, Full-Scale Productions

Drama is taught in two specialist spaces: the Drama Hall in the main building and the Drama Studio in the sixth form centre, both equipped with technical facilities enabling full-scale musical productions and smaller-scale experimental work. Head of Drama Ms Thom leads a dedicated team delivering rigorous, creative teaching.

Recent productions include Sister Act Jr. and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, engaging large casts and demonstrating the school's commitment to participatory theatre. GCSE Drama students achieved 90% A*-C grades in the most recent cohort, reflecting both teaching quality and student commitment.

STEM: Robotics, Physics Projects and Challenge Competitions

The school hosts robotics clubs alongside traditional science enrichment. Year 12 physicists recently conducted rocket launch projects involving CAD (Computer-Aided Design), fluid dynamics and 3D printing, with the cumulative annual project culminating in launch day events. Science departments run lunchtime clubs including the Chemistree project, where Year 10-11 students model atomic and molecular structures using creative materials, finishing with transition-metal solutions in glassware ornaments. These activities embed authentic STEM learning rather than abstract desk-based study.

Additional Enrichment

Wednesday afternoon enrichment activities include chess clubs, debating societies, journalism opportunities, culture club, music ensembles, community volunteer work and sports partnerships. The school offers Duke of Edinburgh Award schemes and trips including annual ski excursions, language exchange visits to France and Spain, and adventure expeditions to locations including Peru, Kenya and Borneo. Year 7 pupils participate in PGL outdoor education weeks featuring raft-building, climbing and team challenges.

The school is significantly oversubscribed. In 2024, 726 applications arrived for 144 primary entry places (five-form entry), resulting in a subscription proportion of 5.04:1. In 2024, the last distance offered was 2.397 miles, indicating that proximity to the school gates remains crucial for admission odds. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. This distance varies annually depending on the cohort's geographic distribution.

The admissions process follows standard Richmond Local Authority coordinated protocols. The school operates a non-selective admissions policy, though places naturally flow to those living nearest, creating a well-defined though informal catchment centred on south-west London postal districts.

For sixth form, entry requires a minimum average GCSE point score of 5.0 across five subjects, with at least grade 5 in English and Maths. Subject-specific requirements are rigorous: grade 6 minimum for A-level subjects, grade 7-9 for Maths, grade 8-9 for Further Maths. Psychology and Sciences require grade 6 minimum in relevant GCSE subjects. External students comprise at least 10 per year; the school actively recruits external candidates, with strong uptake from students citing smaller class sizes, welcoming atmosphere and personalised support.

The school's personal development programme is noted as a strength by Ofsted inspectors. Pupils learn about online safety, healthy relationships and discrimination through assemblies, tutor time and input from specialist external providers. The emotional wellbeing infrastructure includes a trained counsellor visiting weekly; behavioural expectations are clear and consistently applied, and students report genuine care from staff.

All secondary students have form tutor relationships; in the sixth form, vertical tutor groups mix Year 12 and 13 students, enabling peer mentoring. Daily Personal Development time at 14.30 allows for relationship-building and delivery of PSHE programmes covering wellbeing, relationships and personal finance.

School day runs 8:30am to 3:30pm (main school); 8:30am to 3:00pm (sixth form). Uniform policy requires blue blazers (continuing the 1713 tradition of blue gowns worn by students at the school's founding). The sixth form operates a smart-casual dress code without formal uniform.

The school is accessible via public transport: the nearest railway station is Richmond, approximately 15 minutes' walk away. Many students access the school by bus, cycle or car, with ample on-site parking available. Richmond itself is a major south-west London hub with excellent connections across Greater London.

School meals are provided in a modern canteen with recent menu additions including vegan options and healthy grab-and-go salads. Students can access the main cafeteria, sixth form café or bring their own food. A discretionary bursary fund supports financially disadvantaged sixth form students, covering meals, trips, textbooks and university visit expenses.

In 2024, Oversubscription and distance. With over 5 applications per place at secondary entry and last distance offered at 2.397 miles, proximity to school gates is genuinely determinative. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families relying on this school should verify current distances and understand that places are far from guaranteed unless living very close. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution.

SEND support improvements needed. The 2021 Ofsted report noted that a minority of parents felt special educational needs were not being met as well as they should, and this remains on the school's improvement plan. Families with children requiring significant SEND support should visit the school and meet the SENCO (Ms Crayton) to understand current provision.

English Baccalaureate uptake. While 32.2% of pupils enter EBacc at GCSE, this remains below national targets. The school is working to increase uptake, but families seeking EBacc pathways should verify that the subjects their child wishes to study are actively promoted and timetabled.

Christ's is a good, stable, family-oriented comprehensive school serving south-west London effectively. Three centuries of history and an explicit Christian ethos create a distinctive identity within a crowded London secondary market, though the ethos is genuinely inclusive rather than selective in character. Strong pastoral infrastructure, genuine sporting and musical provision, and GCSE results that consistently exceed England average make this a school worth considering seriously if you live within the catchment or can satisfy selective admissions criteria. The main barrier is simply securing a place; once admitted, Christ's offers a solid secondary and sixth form experience.