Headteacher Welcome

Welcome to Rickmansworth School

Rickmansworth School is an outstanding, partially-selective, heavily oversubscribed, comprehensive academy in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.  We have a long history of excellent pastoral care where students are nurtured and, as a consequence, achieve fantastic outcomes which allow them to reach the destinations they desire. We recognise that students only get one chance with their secondary education and our aim is to ensure that every student receives the very best education here at Rickmansworth School. In September 2023, Ofsted noted that “Pupils, including students in the sixth form, experience a high quality of education at Rickmansworth School. Leaders set exceptionally high expectations for pupils’ work, personal development and behaviour. Pupils are very happy and highly enthusiastic about attending school.”

Our welcoming and cohesive staff are committed to ensuring that the School remains a beacon of excellence in all areas. Operating on a foundation of traditional values, we are an institution that welcomes change and regards itself as being at the forefront of development. Staff-student relationships are outstanding and Ofsted commented that “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They clearly understand the expectations and conduct themselves responsibly. Pupils are safe. They develop strong friendships with each other and very positive relationships with teachers.”

For many years we have been the hub school for the local School Sports Partnership and have specialisms in Science and the Arts. We set high academic standards and ensure our students learn in an environment which develops values of respect, courtesy, consideration and tolerance. We aim to ensure that all our students leave Rickmansworth School as well-rounded young people and we are proud of our extensive extra-curricular programme which includes a wide variety of experiences, including several international trips.

At Rickmansworth School we promote our key values and ethos through our six “Ricky Rs”; through our curriculum, we educate our students to:

• be Responsible

• show Respect

• form positive Relationships

• to be Resourceful

• to be Resilient

• to be Reflective

Ofsted commented that “The six ‘Ricky Rs’ form the backbone of the school’s culture. Staff reward pupils when they demonstrate these values. This results in pupils becoming resourceful and resilient individuals.”

Due to popular demand Rickmansworth School was expanded in September 2018 to take an additional form of entry each year and we now have 240 students in each year group going forward. In order to facilitate this the School was supported by a capital grant of £3.5 million and we have recently been very successful in securing a further £1.5 million in grant funding. Consequently, the School has undergone a major refurbishment programme including the construction of a fantastic new Sixth Form Centre, English classroom suite, specialist film studies suite (including a cinema) and a specialist theatre/drama studio which compliments our recently extended dining hall, refurbished swimming pool and first-class Sports Hall. We have modernised the Modern Foreign Languages faculty (including the installation of a languages laboratory) and the mathematics department, created new science laboratories, refurbished the music block and upgraded the School Hall. We recognise that we are preparing our students for future vocations that do not necessarily yet exist and have pioneered the use of technology to enhance learning.  We have recently invested £500,000 to completely refurbish our Innovation & Design Centre where students will use cutting-edge technology and equipment to explore robotics and future technologies. We have a strategic estates plan to develop the whole school site and are constantly looking for ways to improve provision for all of our students.

I am sure that you will find our website useful and informative but please do not hesitate to contact the School with any questions you may have.  I look forward to seeing you at one of our many open events, tours or parent information evenings where you will have the opportunity to experience our fantastic school in action.

Matt Fletcher

Headteacher