Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Roundwood Park School

11–18Ages
1,421Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136973URN

Roundwood Park, Harpenden, AL5 3AE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.7per place

0.7 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

689 applications for 187 places · 21st of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

59.1of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

16th of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 28 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision	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

3.7applications per place, Year 7

0.7 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 1.5 above England median (2.2)

689 applications · 187 places offered · 219 named it first

2026 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 4.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 3.6; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	187	689	3.7	219	1.17
Sep 2025	182	655	3.6	204	1.12
Sep 2024	193	657	3.4	217	1.12
Sep 2023	200	678	3.4	208	1.04
Sep 2022	204	731	3.6	214	1.05
Sep 2021	190	669	3.5	172	0.91
Sep 2020	193	729	3.8	227	1.18
Sep 2019	188	809	4.3	246	1.31
Sep 2018	191	770	4.0	220	1.15
Sep 2017	189	710	3.8	203	1.07
Sep 2016	188	722	3.8	208	1.11
Sep 2015	195	763	3.9	219	1.12
Sep 2014	193	691	3.6	214	1.11

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

189 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)59.116th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths73%13th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths87%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.79

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	189	59.1	73%	87%	–
2024/25	194	59.5	67%	87%	–
2023/24	196	62.5	79%	92%	+0.79
2022/23	210	59.8	76%	85%	+0.54

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

Roundwood Park SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 59.1Attainment 8
St George's School
1.3 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.4applications per place 65.6Attainment 8
Sir John Lawes School
1.9 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

4.0applications per place 63.9Attainment 8
Katherine Warington School
2.8 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

3.8applications per place 50.6Attainment 8
Townsend Church of England School
5.5 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
Chiltern Academy
6.2 km · Luton

Good2023

2.9applications per place 52.4Attainment 8
St Albans Girls' School
6.2 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 60.7Attainment 8
The Stockwood Park Academy
7.0 km · Luton

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.3applications per place 36.9Attainment 8
Sandringham School
7.1 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.3applications per place 65.7Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136973 · 919/4070
Trust: Roundwood Park School Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,179 pupils · 1,421 on roll
Free school meals: 7.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2011
Replaced: Roundwood Park School (URN 117520)
Address: Roundwood Park, Harpenden, AL5 3AE
Local authority: Hertfordshire · St Albans

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