Richmond School & Sixth Form College, Richmond

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Richmond School & Sixth Form College on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed high-quality study programmes across a wide range of subjects for students in the sixth form."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance is close to national averages and is gradually improving over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have correctly identified strengths and areas for improvement across the curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders accurately assess and identify the individual needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in a timely manner."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's areas of strength and areas for improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a rich personal development programme that builds on pupils' knowledge over time."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently make skilful adaptations in lessons and interventions to successfully remove barriers to learning so that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), consistently achieve well, as reflected in above-average outcomes in national tests and examinations over time"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence of pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged and pupils with SEND"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with SEND, are supported to develop the skills that they need to successfully manage their emotions and resolve conflict in order to reduce the rates of suspensions".

In its own words: "The students who join us have the potential to do great things. With inspirational teachers who go above and beyond, our students are supported and challenged to be the best they can be."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Richmond Sixth Form College where students have a challenging and very positive experience and enjoy excellent outcomes. Our results demonstrate that we provide high-quality Sixth Form education and we offer excellent support to our students throughout their journey towards either a university place or entry into the world of work."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, dance, drama, eco club and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Richmond School & Sixth Form College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in North Yorkshire and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in North Yorkshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 45.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.16: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.1, against 49.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 189 families put Richmond School & Sixth Form College as their first choice and 457 named it as one of their preferences, for 228 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Richmond School & Sixth Form College are St Francis Xavier School - a Joint Catholic and Church of England Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.4); and Risedale School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 33.1).

Richmond School & Sixth Form College's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

Richmond School & Sixth Form College is one of 11 schools run by Areté Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.2 in 2024/25.

227 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Richmond School & Sixth Form College (as of April 2026): 83% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 49% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (49%).

Of the 214 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 22% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

Of the 81 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 62% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 17% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

3.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 213 pupils (16.2%) received SEN support and 21 (1.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Richmond School & Sixth Form College has a resourced provision.

Richmond School & Sixth Form College had 58 teachers in 2026, one for every 22 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Richmond School & Sixth Form College.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Richmond School (adjacent), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Richmond School & Sixth Form College stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 52 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Richmond School & Sixth Form College issued 414 suspensions, 32.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Richmond School & Sixth Form College are Richmond Methodist Primary School (0.2 miles), St Mary's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic voluntary academy (0.2 miles), Trinity Academy Richmond (0.3 miles) and Wavell Community Primary School (1.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.