Schoolfile
Search

Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Watford Grammar School for Boys

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,590Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • BoysPupils
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 136276URN

Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD18 7JF · 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
4.5per place
1.6 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

953 applications for 211 places · 11th of 77 in Hertfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
66.3of 90
2nd of 78 in Hertfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 14 April 2026Published 7 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExceptional
Curriculum and teachingExceptional
AchievementExceptional
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExceptional
Leadership and governanceExceptional
  • 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. 14 April 2026
    Report card · 6 Exceptional, 1 Strong standard
  2. 13 October 2021
    Graded inspection: Outstanding

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
4.5applications per place, Year 7
1.6 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 2.3 above England median (2.2)

953 applications · 211 places offered · 396 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  2. 2025 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  3. 2024 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  4. 2023 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  5. 2022 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  6. 2021 4.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  7. 2020 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  8. 2019 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
  9. 2018 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  10. 2017 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  11. 2016 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
  12. 2015 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  13. 2014 5.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 13 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 20262119534.53961.88
Sep 20252159294.33871.80
Sep 20242149354.43631.70
Sep 20232218673.93551.61
Sep 20222089104.43611.74
Sep 20212139754.63791.78
Sep 20202158213.83681.71
Sep 20192139294.43961.86
Sep 20182148744.13751.75
Sep 20171908114.33311.74
Sep 20161858344.53501.89
Sep 20151788835.03692.07
Sep 20141849545.24382.38

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

224 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)66.32nd of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths84%3rd of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths91%
  • This school
  • Hertfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.72
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)22466.384%91%–
2024/2522268.983%91%–
2023/2422266.585%92%+0.72
2022/2322768.891%96%+0.75

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
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136276 · 919/5401
Trust
Watford Grammar School for Boys
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
1,496 pupils · 1,590 on roll
Free school meals
6.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2010
Replaced
Watford Grammar School for Boys (URN 117573)
Address
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD18 7JF
Local authority
Hertfordshire · Watford

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