The Richmond upon Thames School

What The Richmond upon Thames School does

The Richmond upon Thames School (RTS) is a state-funded secondary academy trust operating from a single campus at Egerton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7SL. Founded in 2016 under Head Teacher Kelly Dooley, the school delivers Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 education to students aged 11-16 and has extended its product surface into post-16 education via RTS Sixth Form Plus. The school is governed by The Richmond upon Thames School Trust, a charitable multi-academy trust with trustees drawn from partner organisations and the parent body.

The school's core technology stack is an iPad-based 1:1 device scheme running on Google Suite for Education with Google Classroom for delivery, Smoothwall for content filtering and safety, Progresso for parent-facing progress reporting (twice-yearly), Arbor for school management, and ParentPay for meal and trip billing. Cashless catering is delivered through Nationwide Retail Systems using biometric scanning. The technology is configured for safe, managed, and auditable learning rather than proprietary platform development.

RTS's business model is anchored on UK government per-pupil funding as a state-funded academy, supplemented by ancillary income streams: school meals at £2.90 per set meal, a 3-year iPad lease scheme with optional end-of-lease purchase, lettings through RTS Spaces, and work-experience/programme partnerships. Distribution is entirely direct through on-site delivery to enrolled students; admissions are funneled via open events, primary-school outreach, and the structured Year 6-to-7 transition programme. The school's competitive positioning rests on a unique campus co-located partner ecosystem — Harlequins Foundation (sport), Haymarket Media Group (media/tech hub), the National Physical Laboratory (STEM), and HRUC colleges (post-16 progression) — which is its principal differentiator from comparable London secondaries.

Name

The Richmond upon Thames School

Legal name

The Richmond upon Thames School

Website

https://richmonduponthamesschool.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Richmond upon Thames School is a state-funded UK secondary academy trust in Twickenham delivering Key Stages 3-4 and a Sixth Form, serving students and families with an iPad-based digital learning programme and a unique on-campus partner ecosystem spanning sport, media, and STEM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Twickenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. School Meals: Hot lunch and dessert service prepared with fresh ingredients. Set meal priced at £2.90, includes daily vegetarian choice.
2. iPad Lease Scheme: 3-year lease for iPads with insurance and warranty coverage. Can be paid upfront or in 36 monthly direct debit installments. Optional purchase at end of Year 9 for remaining two years.
3. School Fees (Implied): As a school in the UK education system, revenue derives from government funding (for state education) and potentially private/additional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Richmond upon Thames School is a state-funded secondary academy providing full-time education for students aged 11–16 across Key Stages 3 and 4, including GCSE preparation, plus a post-16 RTS Sixth Form Plus programme. The school delivers a structured curriculum across core academic subjects, creative arts, physical education, and modern foreign languages, supported by a 1:1 iPad device scheme, Google Classroom, and enrichment programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and a partnership-driven sports programme with the Harlequins Foundation.

Product overview

The Richmond upon Thames School (RTS) is a secondary school providing Key Stage 3 and 4 education. The school's product portfolio consists of educational programmes and supporting services rather than commercial technology products. Core offerings include the 1:1 Device Scheme providing iPads to students, RTS Online Safety Hub for internet safety resources, RTS Sports in partnership with Harlequins, and the Enrichment Programme. Technology-enabled services include Progresso for progress monitoring, Arbor for school management, and cashless catering via Nationwide Retail Systems. The school operates on a Google Suite for Education platform with managed iPads and content filtering through Smoothwall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education Programme (Years 7–11)
• RTS Sixth Form Plus
• 1:1 iPad Device Scheme
• RTS Sports
• Enrichment Programme
• Extra-Curricular Activities Programme
• School Meals Service
• RTS Spaces (Community Hire)
• RTS Online Safety Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive transition programme from primary schools with staff visits, induction meetings, and full induction day
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Haymarket Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Haymarket Skills Academy provides media days, career support workshops, and work experience placements (approximately 10 per year). The Haymarket tech hub on campus provides industry-standard technology and master classes to help shape curriculum content for developing next generation media talent.
• HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Following the January 2023 merger of HCUC with Richmond upon Thames College, HRUC provides a wide range of academic and technical pathways accessible to RTS students. Partnership includes access to professional teaching staff, specialist facilities, and progression opportunities for students.
• Harlequins FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Harlequins Foundation provides access to world-class sports coaching and facilities. The foundation supports the school's sports curriculum and provides opportunities for students to engage in competitive sports and fitness activities. Partnership includes access to Twickenham Stoop stadium and sports programs.
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPL, the UK's national measurement standards laboratory based at Bushy Park in Teddington, supports the school's science curriculum. Students experience trips to NPL and masterclasses from scientific experts, enhancing STEM education.
• Richmond Music TrustminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVisiting tutors from Richmond Music Trust provide instrumental lessons to students. Parents apply through the Trust's website for instrumental tuition.
• Apps 4 GoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApps 4 Good collaborates with the school on computing curriculum, providing opportunities for students to work with industry links and not-for-profit organisations.
• Haymarket Skills AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry/subject days and competitions with Haymarket Skills Academy, providing students exposure to media industry professionals and career pathways.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Harris Federation: One of the largest multi-academy trusts in the UK. Provides a benchmark for what scale, centralization, and back-office efficiency look like for UK secondary academies and could represent both a competitor and a potential merger partner.
• Oasis Community Learning: Large national multi-academy trust operating numerous secondary academies. Comparable to RTS at the trust-governance level and a relevant comparison for partnership-led community school models.

Direct peers

• Grey Court School: State secondary school in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Operates in the same geography and competes for the same family segment, with comparable curriculum breadth and Ofsted-regulated oversight.
• Waldegrave School: Nearby state-funded secondary school in Twickenham serving the same Richmond-upon-Thames catchment. Directly competes for the same prospective Year 7 students and represents the principal local alternative for families choosing between state secondaries.
• Richmond upon Thames College: Post-16 college located on the same campus as RTS and core HRUC partner. Directly comparable in subject offering and student demographic for Sixth Form-age learners, with progression pathways feeding from RTS.
• Gumley House School FCJ: Faith-based secondary school in Isleworth within the same West London region. Competes for a similar demographic and offers a comparable breadth of academic and enrichment programmes.
• Teddington School: Adjacent state secondary school in Teddington, also part of the same local authority area. Competes for the same cohort of families in the Twickenham/Richmond borough and is one of the most directly comparable UK state secondaries.

Emerging players

• Twyford Church of England Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating secondary and primary schools in West London with a similar collaborative ethos. A useful comparator for an academy trust structured around partnerships and shared services.
• Reach Academy Feltham: Small, mission-driven academy in West London with a comparable focus on disadvantaged-student outcomes and university progression. Similar in ethos, scale (~smaller than RTS), and academy-trust structure.

Regional players

• Hampton School: Highly selective independent boys' school located very close to the RTS campus. Competes for high-achieving local families, particularly those who might otherwise consider RTS's partnership-led proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RTS_Twickenham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richmond-upon-thames-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Richmond upon Thames School