Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Stanborough School

11–18Ages
1,287Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137847URN

Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6YR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.2per place

0.2 above Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

740 applications for 234 places · 27th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

49.3of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

41st of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 18 January 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
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

3.2applications per place, Year 7

0.2 above Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

740 applications · 234 places offered · 252 named it first

2026 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 3.1; 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	234	740	3.2	252	1.08
Sep 2025	234	756	3.2	247	1.06
Sep 2024	227	748	3.3	265	1.17
Sep 2023	230	609	2.7	194	0.84
Sep 2022	230	523	2.3	154	0.67
Sep 2021	221	551	2.5	169	0.76
Sep 2020	202	507	2.5	120	0.59
Sep 2019	238	677	2.8	156	0.66
Sep 2018	206	670	3.3	200	0.97
Sep 2017	208	649	3.1	185	0.89
Sep 2016	186	578	3.1	169	0.91
Sep 2015	187	586	3.1	158	0.84
Sep 2014	187	574	3.1	157	0.84

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

208 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.341st of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths52%38th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths75%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.18

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	208	49.3	52%	75%	–
2024/25	170	47.9	53%	69%	–
2023/24	188	46.5	48%	73%	+0.18
2022/23	193	50.7	55%	75%	+0.42

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

Stanborough SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

3.2applications per place 49.3Attainment 8
Ridgeway Academy
3.1 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 37.4Attainment 8
Monk's Walk School
3.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.7applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Onslow St Audrey's School
3.4 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

1.3applications per place 36.1Attainment 8
Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School
3.5 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2022

3.0applications per place 54.5Attainment 8
Sandringham School
6.5 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.3applications per place 65.7Attainment 8
Beaumont School
6.7 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

5.0applications per place 63.0Attainment 8
Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
6.7 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

3.7applications per place 55.0Attainment 8
Chancellor's School
7.4 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

3.1applications per place 51.0Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137847 · 919/4014
Trust: Stanborough School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,419 pupils · 1,287 on roll
Free school meals: 18.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 February 2012
Replaced: Stanborough School (URN 117507)
Address: Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6YR
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Welwyn Hatfield

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