The partnership will enhance the local educational landscape by offering an unrivalled sixth form experience and support students' prospects.
 
The new Sixth Form Plus creates a co-delivered, hybrid teaching model, overseen by a senior post Head of Sixth Form. Staff from the Richmond upon Thames School will have the opportunity to teach A-level courses, enriching their career development while assuring parents of the quality of education provided.
 
The new Sixth Form Plus will provide students with a unique curriculum encompassing 21 different A-level options, including subjects such as Architecture, Fine Art, Psychology, Music Technology, and Economics. Additionally, state-of-the-art facilities will offer a comprehensive range of vocational courses from Accountancy to Travel and Tourism, comprising 27 distinct vocational routes, including BTEC Level 1, 2 & 3.
 
The partnership enables a clear sixth-form progression, and will operate under a formal partnership of co-ownership, supported by an Executive Management Board. This board will be co-chaired by the Richmond upon Thames School Head Teacher Kelly Dooley and Richmond College Principal Gavin Hughes. This will ensure effective governance and reporting to the respective governing bodies.
 
The partnership was launched at an event at the college attended by representatives for the Department for Education, and the Association of Colleges.
 
Gavin said, “Students will get an amazing offer. They will be both part of the school and part of the college and will get the best that both can offer. Students will access both buildings and benefit from double the pastoral and academic support, and twice the range of enrichment and work experience.  This ambitious initiative underscores our commitment to providing local students with world-class education – it also exemplifies our shared values and high expectations, which will be delivered with an emphasis on wellbeing, nurturing and top-tier teaching facilities.”
 
Kelly said, “At the Richmond upon Thames School (RTS), we have always prided ourselves on taking an innovative approach to education, serving our local community, and doing the ordinary differently. We are thrilled about what we know will be a transformational partnership between ourselves, Richmond upon Thames College, and the wider HRUC group of colleges. With the introduction of RTS Sixth Form Plus, we will offer our students a seamless transition to post-16 education. Starting from September 2024, our post-16 (Key Stage 5) students will have the opportunity to benefit from a diverse post-16 curriculum and exceptional teaching within a familiar setting. Together, we look forward to setting a new standard for post-16 education, both locally and beyond.” 
 

Further Information:

• Richmond upon Thames College is part of HRUC (Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges).
• The new merger for Richmond upon Thames with Harrow and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) brings with it a new oversight of quality processes. Harrow and Uxbridge College received ‘Outstanding’ grades for Quality of education, behaviour, and attitudes, 16-19 provision, and Leadership and Management at its recent inspection in February 2022. 
• The Richmond upon Thames School (RTS), opened in September 2017.
• In 2020 RTS received an ‘Outstanding’ grade for Personal Development and ‘Good’ for overall effectiveness.
• RTS is located in a new, purpose-built building. Clarendon School’s secondary students, as well as Capella House students, are located in accommodation adjoining RTS’s building.
• The RTS partners will receive support from the College group with links to a large range of employer contacts. HRUC is the West London Institute of Technology, and currently BTEC College of the year.
• A newly built Richmond upon Thames College, together with the schools, make up the Richmond Education and Enterprise Campus. 
• The new Sixth Form Plus will support admissions to the Richmond upon Thames School from Key Stage 2 through to KS5 enabling a clear progression route to higher education and employment;
• Create new opportunities for cross over master classes and joint projects for pupils in areas like Engineering, Sport & Healthy Lifestyles to the Arts and Communication;
• Deliver careers days for pupils to experience a range of options.