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Foundation school · Hertfordshire

The Astley Cooper School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 914Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 117552URN

St Agnell's Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.6per place
1.3 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

285 applications for 175 places · 70th of 77 in Hertfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
33.5of 90
77th of 78 in Hertfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 28 April 2026Published 18 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 28 April 2026
    Report card · 2 Expected standard, 5 Needs attention
  2. 17 November 2021
    Graded 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 entry
1.6applications per place, Year 7
1.3 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

285 applications · 175 places offered · 161 named it first

  1. 2026 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  2. 2025 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  3. 2024 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  4. 2023 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  5. 2022 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  6. 2021 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  7. 2020 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  8. 2019 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
  9. 2018 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  10. 2017 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  11. 2016 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
  12. 2015 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  13. 2014 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 0 of 13 years.
  • 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261752851.61610.92
Sep 20251652621.61230.75
Sep 20241822851.61410.77
Sep 20231773321.91600.90
Sep 20221723151.81420.83
Sep 20211733301.91761.02
Sep 20201672931.81290.77
Sep 20191762721.61390.79
Sep 20181602301.4950.59
Sep 20171121871.7990.88
Sep 2016671382.1610.91
Sep 2015681442.1630.93
Sep 2014711392.0660.93

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

169 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)33.577th of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths21%75th of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths44%
  • This school
  • Hertfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.60
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)16933.521%44%–
2024/2516134.727%44%–
2023/2416837.233%49%−0.60
2022/2313535.725%46%−0.82

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

  • 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
117552 · 919/4499
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,055 pupils · 914 on roll
Free school meals
34.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address
St Agnell's Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL
Local authority
Hertfordshire · Dacorum

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources