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Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Saint Michael's Catholic High School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,130Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137922URN

High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0SS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 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
2.9per place
close to Hertfordshire median (3.0)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

501 applications for 174 places · 43rd of 77 in Hertfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.8of 90
43rd of 78 in Hertfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded inspection · 4 February 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth form provisionOutstanding

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
2.9applications per place, Year 7
close to Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.6 above England median (2.2)

501 applications · 174 places offered · 188 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  2. 2025 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  3. 2024 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  4. 2023 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  5. 2022 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  6. 2021 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  7. 2020 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  8. 2019 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
  9. 2018 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  10. 2017 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  11. 2016 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
  12. 2015 2.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  13. 2014 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 0 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 20261745012.91881.08
Sep 20251754902.81710.98
Sep 20241734912.81751.01
Sep 20231724772.81650.96
Sep 20221744752.71951.12
Sep 20211774982.81740.98
Sep 20201765042.92101.19
Sep 20191785242.92131.20
Sep 20181794742.72101.17
Sep 20171794812.71971.10
Sep 20161835242.92141.17
Sep 20151784582.61841.03
Sep 20141785112.92081.17

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

180 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.843rd of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%52nd of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths66%
  • This school
  • Hertfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.13
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)18048.843%66%–
2024/2517850.950%73%–
2023/2417451.251%76%+0.13
2022/2317554.457%78%+0.24

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
137922 · 919/5417
Trust
The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,103 pupils · 1,130 on roll
Free school meals
14.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 March 2012
Replaced
Saint Michael's Catholic High School (URN 117589)
Address
High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0SS
Local authority
Hertfordshire · Three Rivers

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