Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Presdales School

11–18Ages
1,167Pupils
SecondaryPhase
GirlsPupils
Sixth formAges 16–18
137985URN

Hoe Lane, Ware, SG12 9NX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.5per place

0.4 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

437 applications for 173 places · 55th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

58.7of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

18th of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 6 March 2024Ofsted'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

2.5applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.3 above England median (2.2)

437 applications · 173 places offered · 191 named it first

2026 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 2.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 3.5; 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	173	437	2.5	191	1.10
Sep 2025	175	463	2.7	182	1.04
Sep 2024	177	471	2.7	194	1.10
Sep 2023	182	485	2.7	201	1.10
Sep 2022	179	466	2.6	189	1.06
Sep 2021	180	533	3.0	191	1.06
Sep 2020	180	558	3.1	178	0.99
Sep 2019	179	580	3.2	192	1.07
Sep 2018	182	613	3.4	222	1.22
Sep 2017	180	569	3.2	193	1.07
Sep 2016	171	598	3.5	227	1.33
Sep 2015	170	579	3.4	224	1.32
Sep 2014	167	580	3.5	208	1.25

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

175 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)58.718th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths70%16th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths86%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.61

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	175	58.7	70%	86%	–
2024/25	177	58.9	70%	90%	–
2023/24	175	58.8	71%	93%	+0.61
2022/23	177	57.8	68%	87%	+0.58

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

Presdales SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

2.5applications per place 58.7Attainment 8
The Chauncy School
1.7 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2023

3.0applications per place 49.4Attainment 8
Simon Balle All-Through School
2.9 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2024

5.4applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
Richard Hale School
3.4 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

3.1applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
The John Warner School
3.7 km · Hertfordshire

Special measures Inadequate2022

1.8applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
The Sele School
5.0 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 35.1Attainment 8
Robert Barclay Academy
5.5 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.8applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
The Broxbourne School
6.9 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.1applications per place 53.5Attainment 8
Bmat Stem Academy
9.7 km · Essex

Good2023

29.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137985 · 919/4013
Trust: Presdales School Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,061 pupils · 1,167 on roll
Free school meals: 9.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2012
Replaced: Presdales School (URN 117506)
Address: Hoe Lane, Ware, SG12 9NX
Local authority: Hertfordshire · East Hertfordshire

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