This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 5 October 2022Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 19 March 2013Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry523 applications · 127 places offered · 94 named it first
- 2026 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2025 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2024 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2023 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2022 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2021 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2020 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2019 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
- 2018 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2017 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2016 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
- 2015 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2014 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
- This school
- Hertfordshire median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 127 | 523 | 4.1 | 94 | 0.74 |
| Sep 2025 | 178 | 567 | 3.2 | 121 | 0.68 |
| Sep 2024 | 187 | 554 | 3.0 | 139 | 0.74 |
| Sep 2023 | 191 | 601 | 3.2 | 172 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2022 | 195 | 588 | 3.0 | 178 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2021 | 204 | 654 | 3.2 | 224 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2020 | 204 | 627 | 3.1 | 185 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2019 | 201 | 642 | 3.2 | 210 | 1.04 |
| Sep 2018 | 196 | 670 | 3.4 | 194 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2017 | 196 | 569 | 2.9 | 161 | 0.82 |
| Sep 2016 | 185 | 610 | 3.3 | 178 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2015 | 204 | 602 | 3.0 | 186 | 0.91 |
| Sep 2014 | 180 | 546 | 3.0 | 148 | 0.82 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 198 | 46.5 | 51% | 66% | – |
| 2024/25 | 195 | 48.5 | 49% | 64% | – |
| 2023/24 | 193 | 46.5 | 44% | 68% | −0.05 |
| 2022/23 | 205 | 48.1 | 44% | 65% | −0.07 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- The Priory SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20224.1applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Hertfordshire20252.0applications per place 56.8Attainment 8
- 1.9 km · HertfordshireGraded · no overall grade20242.1applications per place 61.8Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · Hertfordshire20263.0applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · HertfordshireGood20233.0applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
- 6.7 km · HertfordshireRemains Good · improving20242.6applications per place 55.7Attainment 8
- 6.8 km · Central BedfordshireStandards maintained202545.8Attainment 8
- 6.9 km · HertfordshireRemains Good20232.0applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- 7.1 km · Central BedfordshireGood202444.6Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Foundation school
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 117499 · 919/4000
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,300 pupils · 1,221 on roll
- Free school meals
- 26.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
- SEN provision
- Resourced provision
- Address
- Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire · North Hertfordshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources