Richmond upon Thames School Catchment Areas and Top Schools

Richmond upon Thames is one of London’s most sought-after boroughs for families — and for good reason. Its combination of outstanding schools, leafy green spaces, and excellent transport links makes it a prime choice for parents who want both quality education and quality of life.

But with high demand comes competition, and in Richmond that often means navigating the complexities of school catchment areas. Whether you’re looking at homes in TW1, TW9, or TW10, understanding how catchments work here can be the difference between securing a place at your preferred school and missing out.

How do school catchment areas work in Richmond upon Thames?

School catchment areas in Richmond work in much the same way as elsewhere in England: a defined geographic area determines priority for school admissions. However, in a borough with such high-performing schools, the boundaries can be small — sometimes just a few streets. That means even homes close to a school might not fall within its catchment in a given year.

Can school catchment areas change in Richmond?

Yes — catchment boundaries can and do change from year to year, based on factors such as the number of applications, sibling admissions, and the school’s published admissions criteria. For example, one year the furthest distance offered might be 0.5 miles, while in another it could be 0.35 miles. This is why relying on “as the crow flies” distance alone can be misleading.

Popular primary schools in Richmond upon Thames

• The Vineyard School (TW10) — consistently rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
• St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School (TW1) — highly regarded for its strong academic results.
• Orleans Primary School (TW1) — popular with families in St Margarets and Twickenham.

Top secondary and grammar schools serving the borough

• Grey Court School (TW10) — a well-rated comprehensive with a broad curriculum.
• Orleans Park School (TW1) — sought after for both academics and sports provision.
• Waldergrave School (TW2) — an Outstanding girls’ school with strong exam performance.
• Tiffin School (KT2) — selective grammar school, no fixed catchment but high competition.

Property prices and the “catchment premium”

Homes within the catchment of Richmond’s most popular schools often command a significant premium. It’s not unusual for a house within a few hundred metres of The Vineyard School to sell for tens of thousands more than a similar property just outside the annual boundary. For TW9 and TW10 areas, proximity to top schools like Grey Court can also have a strong influence on asking prices.

How to check your Richmond school catchment area

You can use the Richmond Council website for up-to-date admissions criteria, or try our School Catchment Homes postcode lookup tool to see historical offer distances and mapped catchment patterns. This will give you a more realistic view than simply drawing a circle “as the crow flies”.

Buying in Richmond: tips for securing your preferred school

• Check multiple years of admissions data to understand how catchments shift.
• View properties early in the academic year to allow for application timelines.
• Consider nearby alternative schools with strong results to give yourself options.

FAQs

Are school catchment areas in Richmond measured as the crow flies?

Most Richmond schools use straight-line distance from the school gate to your home, but actual catchments vary yearly based on applications.

Can my child go to a Richmond school out of catchment?

It’s possible if there are available places after in-catchment children are admitted, but for popular schools this is rare.

How big is the average Richmond catchment area?

It varies — for oversubscribed schools it can be under 0.4 miles in some years.

Which Richmond postcodes are in the best catchments?

TW1, TW9, and TW10 often have access to multiple top-rated schools, though boundaries change annually.

Where can I find school catchment maps for Richmond?

The council publishes annual allocation data, and our postcode tool visualises historical trends on a map.