Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Bushey Meads School

11–18Ages
1,200Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137872URN

Coldharbour Lane, Bushey, WD23 4PA · 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

2.0per place

1.0 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

368 applications for 184 places · 62nd of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.5of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

65th of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 14 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	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement
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

2.0applications per place, Year 7

1.0 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

368 applications · 184 places offered · 85 named it first

2026 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 5.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 5.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 5.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 5.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 5.4; 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	184	368	2.0	85	0.46
Sep 2025	189	572	3.0	112	0.59
Sep 2024	191	530	2.8	114	0.60
Sep 2023	198	629	3.2	163	0.82
Sep 2022	201	820	4.1	230	1.14
Sep 2021	181	814	4.5	184	1.02
Sep 2020	178	794	4.5	170	0.96
Sep 2019	196	983	5.0	221	1.13
Sep 2018	200	1,078	5.4	243	1.22
Sep 2017	192	1,041	5.4	190	0.99
Sep 2016	196	1,037	5.3	215	1.10
Sep 2015	189	985	5.2	174	0.92
Sep 2014	163	872	5.4	154	0.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

187 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.565th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%52nd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.45

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	187	42.5	43%	61%	–
2024/25	188	43.6	41%	64%	–
2023/24	184	42.1	41%	64%	−0.45
2022/23	187	50.8	60%	77%	−0.02

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

Bushey Meads SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.0applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
The Grange Academy
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.4applications per place 48.2Attainment 8
Queens' School
1.8 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

6.0applications per place 56.2Attainment 8
Watford Grammar School for Girls
3.4 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.0applications per place 65.5Attainment 8
Bentley Wood High School
3.7 km · Harrow

Outstanding2023

2.7applications per place 56.6Attainment 8
Watford Grammar School for Boys
4.6 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.5applications per place 66.3Attainment 8
Westfield Academy
4.7 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Hatch End High School
4.8 km · Harrow

Remains Good2024

2.6applications per place 47.2Attainment 8
London Academy
5.1 km · Barnet

Good2023

2.8applications per place 52.9Attainment 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: 137872 · 919/5408
Trust: Bushey St James Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,300 pupils · 1,200 on roll
Free school meals: 23.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 February 2012
Replaced: Bushey Meads School (URN 117580)
Address: Coldharbour Lane, Bushey, WD23 4PA
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Hertsmere

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