Thomas’s College

Address & Additional Information:

Thomas’s College, Queen’s Road, 

Richmond Hill, Richmond upon Thames, TW10 6JP

Tel: 0207 9780902

https://www.thomas-s.co.uk/thomass-college/

Comments:

There is a buzz around this school- Thomas’s senior school is due to open this coming September 2025. The school will offer both an 11+ (80 places) and 13+ entrance point (44 places) with a smaller intake into Year 10 (14+) of 15 places.  There will be 100 in a year group and 630 students in the whole school. Class sizes promise to be around 20 in the younger years and smaller in the sixth form. Recent attendance of the open day revealed Thomas’ plans to offer a freedom and choice on the traditional senior school curriculum. It is committed to taking students with a range of abilities and a ‘diversity of excellence’. This is namely evident in a new approach to the constrictions of traditional GCSE qualifications and also an innovative year 14 policy offering students opportunities for internships, philanthropy, careers advice and support getting into the working world. Thomas’s want to focus on providing ‘purposeful learning’ opportunities for careers. The new headmaster, Will le Fleming, has recently been working in a girl’s school outside of London (The Abbey) and made clear the school’s commitment to a new focus and developing a ‘breadth of curriculum and excellence’. 

The building was, up to recently, an American University and remains an attractive grade-listed building. At the point of our visit building work was still very much in progress with plans available to prospective parents. The building itself is elegant and imposing and will be able to offer a wealth of space and facilities in a quiet area of Richmond.  On-site sports facilities are surprisingly limited with a netball court and some room for a potential running track and the promise of a dance studio and indoor multiuse sports hall. The majority of grass sports will be taking place at Duke’s Meadow in Chiswick and some, in nearby Richmond Park (biking, riding etc). 

Admissions information covered Thomas’ sibling’s approach which will not guarantee a place but will take into account a sibling application. The deadline to register is October with assessments booked for November 2025. The assessments for entrance will focus on ‘knowledge’ (student’s academic level achieved in previous school), ‘skills assessments’ (problem solving within a 1-hour session) and interview.  Thomas will offer boarding facilities for around 50 pupils with option for boarding for working week or even flexi board for the occasional evening when needed (£85 a night).

SEN support will be built into the classroom first and foremost with all teachers committed to building diversity in the classroom. There will also be a substantial SEN team in place to offer 1:1 support when necessary. Children will have top option of taking the shuttle bus from Richmond station as the school is an 20 minute walk asway. 

Language provision will offer French, Spanish, German and Mandarin from year 7.