Ages 
Waldegrave offers top-tier all-girls state education. It serves up ambitious academics with a good helping of emotional intelligence and celebrates as well as truly supports differences. We’d sum it up as inclusive, empowering and empathetic. If mortgage rate hikes and VAT on school fees have taken dreams of an independent education off the table for Twickenham’s educationally aspirational families, then as the head maintained, ‘you will not be selling your girls short by sending them here’.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,467 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 377 ·
- Local authority
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Headteacher
Headteacher
Ms Elizabeth Tongue
Since 2019, Elizabeth Tongue, previously senior deputy head at Tolworth Girls’ School. Read history and theology at the University of Leeds and completed her teacher training in York more than 25 years ago.
Pragmatic and hands-on, she is an
Entrance
Families with daughters flock to the surrounding Twickenham streets years in advance, with properties in the neighbouring tree-lined streets as sought-after as school places. Those who bag a space consider themselves ‘so lucky’. As the only all-girls
- Open days
- See website
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Around 50 to 60 per cent of year 11 girls stay on for A levels. Leavers head to Richmond Sixth Form College, Tiffin Girls, Esher College or sixth forms of independent schools. Some to the Brit School and ballet schools too. At 18 the majority of
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2025, 53 per cent 9-7 at GCSE, 80 per cent grade 9-5 including English and maths; at A level, 42 per cent A*/A (78 per cent A*-B).
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
If you’re the type to measure a school on academic outcomes alone, Waldegrave will impress with its consistently ‘record-breaking’ results, outstanding Ofsted judgement and prime position on all those ubiquitous ‘top school’ league tables. There’s no
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Sixth form
Excellent sixth form that stretches students through enrichment (local resident Penny Mordaunt recently gave a talk) and supports with workshops for university and increasing number of apprenticeship applications. Some 23 A level subjects offered
Learning support & SEN
One of the most genuinely inclusive schools we have visited. There's an authentic drive and desire to make school the ‘very best experience for all pupils’.
Around 200 on school’s SEN register and 50 pupils have EHCPS for a broad range of
Arts & extracurricular
This leafy west London locale is popular with those working in the media and arts so it’s no surprise to hear Waldegrave parents ‘don’t need persuading’ when it comes to their daughters taking these subjects to the highest levels. Drama department
Sport
Behind the school’s frontage there’s a surprising expanse of green space. A huge field includes a marked-out running track and long jump pit and is where the annual sports day takes place. ‘Every single pupil is involved,’ head of PE tells us
Ethos & heritage
Formed in 1980 by the merger of Kneller Girls’ and Twickenham Girls’ schools, and named after Frances Lady Waldegrave, former resident of nearby Strawberry Hill House, Waldegrave School converted to academy status in 2012.
Main school building
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
‘Behaviour here is excellent,’ says head. Waldegrave is a gold standard ‘attachment aware’ school which means it ‘embeds principles of attachment and trauma-informed practice throughout the school culture and community to create a nurturing,
Pupils & parents
Parents claim Twickenham is ‘more grounded’ than neighbouring Richmond, but the fact remains, Waldegrave is set in a salubrious suburb of west London with many middle-class families. There is a strong sense of community with many knowing each other
The last word
Waldegrave offers top-tier all-girls state education. It serves up ambitious academics with a good helping of emotional intelligence and celebrates as well as truly supports differences. We’d sum it up as inclusive, empowering and empathetic. If
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Short inspection: Outstanding
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
