Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Birchwood High School

11–18Ages
1,417Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137637URN

Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5BD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 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

3.5per place

0.5 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

606 applications for 174 places · 23rd of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.5of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

54th of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 21 January 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	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
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

3.5applications per place, Year 7

0.5 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

606 applications · 174 places offered · 96 named it first

2026 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 4.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 3.4; 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	174	606	3.5	96	0.55
Sep 2025	211	701	3.3	123	0.58
Sep 2024	230	822	3.6	187	0.81
Sep 2023	204	811	4.0	152	0.75
Sep 2022	238	875	3.7	178	0.75
Sep 2021	265	883	3.3	174	0.66
Sep 2020	254	833	3.3	142	0.56
Sep 2019	253	790	3.1	151	0.60
Sep 2018	236	798	3.4	154	0.65
Sep 2017	213	811	3.8	147	0.69
Sep 2016	235	849	3.6	158	0.67
Sep 2015	235	853	3.6	188	0.80
Sep 2014	239	807	3.4	173	0.72

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

265 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.554th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%51st of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.08

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	265	45.5	44%	65%	–
2024/25	243	46.1	42%	64%	–
2023/24	231	48.1	49%	69%	−0.08
2022/23	230	45.1	38%	63%	−0.45

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

Birchwood High SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Hockerill Anglo-European College
0.8 km · Hertfordshire

Good2022

11.5applications per place 62.3Attainment 8
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College
1.1 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

2.9applications per place 62.0Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic School
2.0 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 56.8Attainment 8
Avanti Grange Secondary School
2.4 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.6applications per place
Forest Hall School
2.8 km · Essex

2026

2.8applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
The Bishop's Stortford High School
3.4 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2023

3.3applications per place 58.8Attainment 8
Leventhorpe
6.4 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

2.8applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Mark Hall Academy
11.2 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 37.8Attainment 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 converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137637 · 919/4200
Trust: Birchwood High School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,500 pupils · 1,417 on roll
Free school meals: 18.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 November 2011
Replaced: Birchwood High School (URN 117549)
Address: Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5BD
Local authority: Hertfordshire · East Hertfordshire

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