Rutlish School
Rutlish School is a voluntary controlled school in Merton for pupils aged 11 to 19. It has 1,471 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Rutlish School is Outstanding, from an inspection in October 2024. In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 56.1, and 64% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.
Ofsted inspection: October 2024. GCSE results: 2026. A-level results: 2025.
| Type | Secondary / Voluntary controlled school |
| Age Range | 11-19 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Watery Lane Merton Park London SW20 9AD |
| Phone | 02085421212 |
| Reference Number | 102679 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1471 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 100%
Girls: 0% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 24.3% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 50.6% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 18.3 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 240 | Unknown | 240 |
| 8 | 239 | Unknown | 239 |
| 9 | 231 | Unknown | 231 |
| 10 | 238 | Unknown | 238 |
| 11 | 232 | Unknown | 232 |
| 12 | 155 | Unknown | 155 |
| 13 | 136 | Unknown | 136 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 31.6% |
| White, Other | 16% |
| Asian, Other | 11.2% |
| Pakistani | 9.2% |
| Mixed, Other | 7% |
| African | 4.3% |
| White & Asian | 3.7% |
| Indian | 3% |
| Chinese | 2.7% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.2% |
| Caribbean | 1.2% |
| Unclassified | 1% |
| Irish | 0.3% |
Rutlish School is a boys’ secondary school in Merton with a sixth form and a specialist centre for pupils with speech, language and communication needs. In this September 2024 graded inspection, inspectors found the school performing exceptionally well across every area, with the previous inspection also having judged it outstanding. The school is described as welcoming and aspirational, with extremely high expectations that enable all pupils, including those with SEND, to achieve very highly. The report highlights exemplary behaviour, a highly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum, strong teaching, and highly effective support for pupils with SEND. Pupils are motivated, resilient and attend well, and they benefit from a carefully planned personal development programme, a wide range of leadership roles, clubs, trips and enrichment. Sixth-form students also achieve exceptionally well and receive strong support for university and apprenticeship applications. Leadership is a notable strength: staff receive a very strong professional development programme, quality of teaching and curriculum implementation are checked in detail, and governors provide clear strategic direction and appropriate challenge and support. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. No areas for improvement are identified in the report.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| > Quality of education | Outstanding |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Outstanding |
| > Personal Development | Outstanding |
| > Leadership & Management | Outstanding |
| > Sixth Form Provision | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 24 Sep 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2024 | School inspection |
| 26 Apr 2022 | School inspection |
| 25 Apr 2017 | Full inspection: |
| 21 Mar 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 27 Jan 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Monitoring visit |
| 13 Jun 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 09 Jul 2001 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Highly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum builds pupils’ knowledge progressively over time
- Subject-specific vocabulary is embedded and pupils use it confidently
- Teachers have strong subject knowledge and explain information clearly
- Staff check understanding systematically and address misconceptions quickly
- Pupils with SEND are identified and supported highly effectively through extensive training and tailored strategies
- Behaviour is exemplary and pupils are friendly, polite, kind and enthusiastic
- Pupils are motivated, resilient and have excellent attitudes to learning
- Personal development is carefully planned and develops character through leadership roles, clubs, trips and enrichment
- Careers advice and sixth-form support prepare pupils well for future education and employment
- Staff professional development and detailed quality checks drive continuous improvement
- Governors understand the school’s strengths and priorities and provide appropriate challenge and support
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective
- Attendance is high, including for pupils with SEND
- Bespoke reading and handwriting support helps pupils improve fluency and confidence
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 56.1 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 63.8% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 78.6% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 36.75 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Average Points (best 3) | 38.35 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | B- | B- | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | B | B- | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 29.7% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
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See how Rutlish School ranks locally and nationally. Percentile rankings against every other school, historic result charts, admissions data and post-GCSE destinations are all included.
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Unlock for £9.992026 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 193 | 61 |
| Third Preference | 133 | 13 |
| From another Local Authority | 164 | 8 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
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0.28 miles |
|
Joseph Hood Primary School
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|
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Poplar Primary School
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|
Dundonald Primary School
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Pelham Primary School
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0.72 miles |
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Hillcross Primary School
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|
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|
Merton Abbey Primary School
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|
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1.05 miles |
|
Hollymount School
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1.06 miles |
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1.1 miles |
|
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1.11 miles |
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| Name | Distance |
|
Wimbledon School of Art
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|
Hall School Wimbledon
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Perseid School
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1.39 miles |
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Harris Academy Morden
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1.67 miles |
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Cricket Green School
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1.73 miles |
|
RISE Education
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1.74 miles |
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Glenthorne High School
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1.91 miles |
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Coombe Boys' School
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What is Rutlish School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Rutlish School is Outstanding, from an inspection in October 2024.
When was Rutlish School last inspected by Ofsted?
Rutlish School was last inspected in October 2024.
How many pupils does Rutlish School have?
Rutlish School has 1,471 pupils on roll.
What age range does Rutlish School cover?
Rutlish School for pupils aged 11 to 19.
What are Rutlish School's GCSE results?
In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 56.1, and 64% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.
Where is Rutlish School?
Rutlish School is at Watery Lane, Merton Park, London, SW20 9AD.