The Harrodian School, London
The Harrodian School is an independent school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Harrodian School in detail
The Harrodian School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Headteacher, Mr James Hooke, introduces Harrodian, reflecting on its history, the development of its remarkable site and the qualities that make it stand out as a special place to learn. Harrodian is a relative youngster in school terms but it has done a great deal of growing up and maturing in its first 30 years or so."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Harrodian School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to The Harrodian School are The Swedish School (0.5 miles, Outstanding); St Paul's School (0.6 miles); Latymer Upper School and Latymer Prep (0.9 miles, selective); and Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School (0.9 miles).
The Swedish SchoolSt Paul's SchoolLatymer Upper School and Latymer PrepRavenscourt Park Preparatory School
What parents say
337 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Harrodian School (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 61% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (61%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 92 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 50% went on to university or other higher education and 13% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 214 pupils (20.7%) received SEN support and 2 (0.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnes Bridge, about 1150 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harrodian School (->s), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Harrodian School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 350 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Richmond upon Thames (232), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Harrodian School excels at creating a caring, inclusive environment where pupils achieve highly and behave exceptionally well. Teachers are knowledgeable and identify misconceptions quickly, while the school's outstanding sixth form produces mature, successful learners who serve as positive role models. Pupils have access to an impressive range of enrichment activities and a highly effective careers programme that prepares them well for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pupil behaviour and attitudes, with a calm and orderly environment conducive to learning
- Outstanding sixth-form provision where students achieve exceptionally well and develop into mature learners
- Strong focus on reading with a revised phonics scheme and expert support for struggling readers
- Highly effective careers programme preparing pupils for informed choices about their future
- Broad and ambitious curriculum with extensive subject choices at GCSE and A level
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum sequencing and continuity across early years, primary and secondary phases is unclear in some subjects, leading to repetition of learning
- Early years curriculum intentions sometimes not precisely linked to important content, missing opportunities to broaden children's knowledge
- Parent communication needs improvement, particularly when concerns are raised
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school ensuring a safe and purposeful learning environment where pupils know there is always an adult to turn to with concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Crochet, sports, Lego, dance, drama, school productions, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, art exhibitions, charitable work, trips and visits
The Harrodian School is an independent day school with an overall effectiveness rating of Good. The school maintains high expectations for academic achievement and behaviour, with outstanding ratings in behaviour, attitudes, and personal development.
About
The Harrodian School is a private day school in Barnes, South-west London. Formerly the site of Harrods Sports Club, the original premises had been extended and converted for educational purposes.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
337 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Harrodian School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 4 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from The Harrodian School
Inspired by Art
1 Oct 2026
A Magical Day Out
1 Oct 2026
Harrodian Awards 2025-2026
1 Oct 2026
Club Culture
18 Sep 2026
Winning Words
18 Sep 2026
A Prize Celebration: Prizegiving 2026
17 Sep 2026
From The Harrodian School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Harrodian School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Harrodian School.
- Dolce Senso Bake N Play After School Club690m away · Not yet graded
- Stagecoach Performing Arts Putney and Barnes820m away · Not yet graded
- NSSport (MJ) Holiday Activities and Care Club820m away · Not yet graded
- The Hive at St Paul's School910m away · Not yet graded
- Activ Camps at St Paul's School910m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Richmond upon Thames is 27 (the median across 86 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
1,034 pupils
1,050 places
16 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Richmond upon Thames council
Places available
2,266
Applications
2,021
Got 1st preference
62.2%
Got preferred school
93.0%
All secondary applications across Richmond upon Thames council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
214
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
20.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
1,034
Total Pupils
512
Boys
522
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Harrodian School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Harrodian School
What are GCSE results like at The Harrodian School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Harrodian School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is The Harrodian School's Ofsted rating?
The Harrodian School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025.
Does The Harrodian School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2025, The Harrodian School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to The Harrodian School?
The Harrodian School has around 1034 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to The Harrodian School?
The Harrodian School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does The Harrodian School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 5 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of The Harrodian School: Dolce Senso Bake N Play After School Club (690m away, registered, not yet graded), Stagecoach Performing Arts Putney and Barnes (820m away, registered, not yet graded) and NSSport (MJ) Holiday Activities and Care Club (820m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near The Harrodian School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Richmond upon Thames is 27 (the median across 86 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Harrodian School?
The Harrodian School is at Lonsdale Road, London, SW13 9QN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)