Royal Thames College

Royal Thames College is an independent secondary school and sixth form in Greenwich, south-east London, educating pupils aged 11 to 18 in the English National Curriculum tradition with a particular strength in the sciences and humanities. The school's riverside setting, overlooking the Thames near Greenwich Park, provides a distinguished and inspiring environment for academic study. The curriculum follows the established British pathway of Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), GCSEs (Years 10 to 11), and A-Levels (Years 12 to 13). At GCSE, pupils study a core of English Language and Literature, Mathematics, the three separate sciences, and a modern foreign language, supplemented by options from a menu that includes History, Geography, Latin, Computer Science, Art, Music, and Design Technology. The Sixth Form offers a wide selection of A-Level subjects, with particular depth in the sciences, mathematics, economics, English literature, history, and classical languages. The school campus comprises a handsome main building dating from the early twentieth century, extended with modern facilities including six science laboratories, a 25-metre swimming pool, a boathouse supporting the school's competitive rowing programme on the Thames, a well-equipped library with over 15,000 volumes, a sports field, and dedicated spaces for art, music, and drama. The rowing club is a distinctive feature of the school, with crews regularly competing at national level in the Schools' Head of the River Race and the National Schools' Regatta. Royal Thames College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). The school has been recognised in ISI reports for its strong academic standards and the quality of pastoral support. It is also listed in the Good Schools Guide, which has highlighted the school's rowing programme and its blend of academic rigour with a broad co-curricular offering. Academic outcomes at A-Level are strong, with approximately 70% of grades at A*-B in recent years. University destinations include a significant number of Russell Group placements, with particular success in securing offers from Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Warwick, and Edinburgh. The school typically sends two to four pupils per year to Oxbridge and provides structured preparation for medical, dental, and veterinary school applications. Beyond rowing, co-curricular activities include Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Duke of Edinburgh Award, debating, chess, school orchestra, jazz band, choral society, and an annual programme of theatrical productions. Languages provision extends to Latin, French, and additional classical languages for scholarship candidates. Tuition fees range from GBP 20,000 to GBP 35,000 per year. Entry at 11+ is by examination and interview, with smaller intakes at 13+ and 16+ for the Sixth Form. Means-tested bursaries are available, covering up to 100% of fees for exceptional candidates.