Merton secondary schools

Year 7 admissions · September 2027

Rutlish School

A boys' voluntary-controlled secondary school in Merton Park with a sixth form.

Personalised admissions analysis available

September 2027 admissions policy

Verified by SchoolRange on View original policy (PDF)

AddressWatery Lane, Merton Park, London, SW20 9AD
Funding sectorState-fundedDfE GIAS classification · Snapshot dated
Academic selectionNon-selectiveDfE GIAS classification · Snapshot dated
Religious characterNo religious character recordedDfE GIAS classification · Snapshot dated
GovernanceVoluntary controlled schoolDfE GIAS classification · Snapshot dated
GenderBoysDfE GIAS classification · Snapshot dated
Age range11 to 19
URN102679
2027 Year 7 places240 places
Official websiteOfficial school website Website link checked .

Admissions summary

How places are prioritised

For September 2027, named EHCPs are admitted first. Merton's priorities include authority-approved exceptional need and a paired sibling rule recognising eligible siblings at Rutlish or Ricards Lodge, followed by staff priority and straight-line distance.

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September 2027 entry

Rutlish School Year 7 admissions criteria

Priority order

  1. Children whose EHCP names the school
  2. Looked-after and previously looked-after children
  3. Children whose exceptional medical or social need is accepted by Merton
  4. Children meeting the paired Rutlish or Ricards Lodge sibling criterion
  5. Eligible children of Rutlish staff
  6. All other applicants, ordered by straight-line distance

Sibling priority

Merton's paired rule can give priority for an eligible sibling attending either Rutlish School or Ricards Lodge High School when the applicant starts.

Children of staff

Priority applies where the staff member has been employed at the school for at least two years, or was recruited for a demonstrable skills shortage.

How distance is measured

Merton measures straight line from a property point for the home address to the school's main reception. SchoolRange postcode-centroid screening is approximate.

Evidence to prepare

  • Proof of home address
  • Sibling details for Rutlish or Ricards Lodge if claiming sibling priority
  • Professional evidence and Merton's form if requesting exceptional-need consideration
  • Employment evidence if claiming children-of-staff priority

Application deadline

Apply through the council where your child lives, even if the school is in another borough.

What recent offers show

The March first-round distance boundaries published by Merton were 2.585 km for 2023, 2.391 km for 2024 and 2.240 km for 2025.

Published outcomes

Recent published admissions history

This is historical context, not a prediction for 2027. These are past allocation outcomes, not a forecast or guarantee.