Academy sponsor led · Hertfordshire

Future Academies Watford

11–18Ages
1,060Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
135876URN

Horseshoe Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 7HW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.1per place

1.8 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

298 applications for 266 places · 75th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.6of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

63rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 29 April 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision		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

1.1applications per place, Year 7

1.8 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

298 applications · 266 places offered · 102 named it first

2026 1.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 1.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 2.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 1.4; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	266	298	1.1	102	0.38
Sep 2025	267	256	1.0	91	0.34
Sep 2024	212	272	1.3	80	0.38
Sep 2023	215	349	1.6	132	0.61
Sep 2022	223	400	1.8	141	0.63
Sep 2021	223	354	1.6	154	0.69
Sep 2020	207	422	2.0	162	0.78
Sep 2019	223	461	2.1	176	0.79
Sep 2018	222	437	2.0	167	0.75
Sep 2017	209	458	2.2	169	0.81
Sep 2016	223	392	1.8	136	0.61
Sep 2015	211	367	1.7	110	0.52
Sep 2014	216	312	1.4	118	0.55

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

195 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.663rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%59th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.16

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	195	42.6	40%	57%	–
2024/25	184	39.8	32%	55%	–
2023/24	197	39.4	39%	58%	−0.16
2022/23	189	38.7	34%	57%	−0.44

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

Future Academies WatfordThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.1applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Saint Michael's Catholic High School
0.5 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.9applications per place 48.8Attainment 8
Parmiter's School
0.6 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

6.8applications per place 65.0Attainment 8
Queens' School
4.7 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

6.0applications per place 56.2Attainment 8
Watford Grammar School for Boys
5.0 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.5applications per place 66.3Attainment 8
Watford Grammar School for Girls
5.1 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.0applications per place 65.5Attainment 8
Kings Langley School
5.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

3.3applications per place 46.9Attainment 8
The Marlborough Science Academy
5.4 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.6applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Croxley Danes School
5.7 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.7applications per place 51.6Attainment 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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 135876 · 919/6905
Trust: Future Academies
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,350 pupils · 1,060 on roll
Free school meals: 34.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2009
Replaced: Francis Combe School and Community College (URN 117522)
Address: Horseshoe Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 7HW
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Watford

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