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Senior schools in Richmond upon Thames

There are 11 independent senior schools in Richmond upon Thames: 2 girls', 2 boys', 7 co-ed. The median day fee is £31,686 a year. An independent senior school teaches pupils from 11 or 13 to 16 or 18. The main entry points are 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ for sixth form.

Updated September 2026

Schools
11
Day fees
£13,280–£37,998 / year
Ages
2–19

Best-ranked senior schools in Richmond upon Thames

By Houseroom Index score

  1. St Paul's School
  2. Lady Eleanor Holles School
  3. Hampton School
  4. The Harrodian School
  5. St Catherine's School

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Every senior school in Richmond upon Thames

All 11 independent senior schools in Richmond upon Thames, A to Z.

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Top-ranked senior schools in neighbouring areas.

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Choosing a private school in Richmond upon Thames

Houseroom editorial team · Published 29 September 2026

Senior schools in Richmond upon Thames

St Paul's School in Barnes remains a boys' school with a multi-stage selection process. About 198 boys join the senior school in Year 9, roughly half from St Paul's Prep and half from other preps. Candidates for 13+ are assessed in Year 6: the ISEB pre-test in the autumn, written papers in January, then interviews. Boys from state primaries or preps ending at 11 are steered to the 11+ route instead, and no boy may sit both.

Hampton School is a boys' day school for 11 to 18. It admits about 170 boys at 11+, offers around 35 deferred 10+ Advance Places, and runs 13+ as a pre-test in Year 6 with a second chance in Year 7. Lady Eleanor Holles, next door, is a girls' school from 7 to 18 with about 120 Year 7 places, roughly a third taken by its own junior girls, who move up without sitting the 11+. External candidates take the ISEB pre-test and an LEH problem-solving paper before interview. The two schools already share coaches and some co-curricular life, and have announced a joint governance committee and aligned timetables from 2028.

For co-education, The Harrodian School in Barnes runs from 4 to 18 and admits at Reception, Year 4, Year 7, Year 9 and sixth form. Kneller Hall School, formerly Radnor House, currently teaches Years 7 to 13 at Pope's Villa in Twickenham and moves to the Kneller Hall estate in Whitton in September 2027. St Catherine's in Twickenham is a Catholic girls' school for 7 to 18 that welcomes girls of all faiths; girls in its prep have an automatic place in Year 7.

The Royal Ballet School trains younger dancers at White Lodge in Richmond Park, with entry by audition; the school stopped taking Year 7 full-time students from September 2026 and plans to do the same for Year 8 from September 2027. The German School accepts children from kindergarten up to the start of Year 11 but does not normally admit into its sixth form.

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Choosing a senior school in Richmond upon Thames

11+, 13+ and 16+ entry

Most London senior schools admit at 11+, some at 13+ as well or instead, and nearly all take a smaller group at 16+. 11+ entry is usually a written exam or online test in the autumn or January of Year 6, followed by interview; 13+ places are often offered after a Year 6 pre-test.

What to compare

Compare GCSE and A-level results over several years, university destinations (including Oxbridge and medicine offers), the size of the sixth form, bursary and scholarship support, and the journey time. Results alone tell you about intake as much as teaching.

Senior schools in Richmond upon Thames: common questions

What are the best senior schools in Richmond upon Thames?
The highest-scoring senior schools in Richmond upon Thames on the Houseroom Index are St Paul's School, Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton School, The Harrodian School and St Catherine's School. The index weighs exam results, destinations, inspection and value.
How many senior schools are there in Richmond upon Thames?
Houseroom lists 11 independent senior schools in Richmond upon Thames.
How much do senior schools in Richmond upon Thames cost?
Day fees at senior schools in Richmond upon Thames range from £13,280–£37,998 a year, with a median of £31,686. Fees include 20% VAT since January 2025. Lunches, uniform and trips are usually extra.
When should I register for a senior school?
Registration for 11+ entry usually closes in the autumn of Year 5 or Year 6, and for 13+ often in Year 5 ahead of Year 6 pre-tests. Deadlines vary by school, so check each school's admissions page.
What is the difference between 11+ and 13+ entry?
11+ entry is into Year 7, straight from primary or a prep that ends at Year 6. 13+ entry is into Year 9, usually from a prep that runs to Year 8, and is often decided by a pre-test in Year 6.