Academy converter · Hertfordshire

St Mary's Church of England High School (VA)

11–19Ages
911Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
138360URN

Lieutenant Ellis Way, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN7 5FB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

1.2 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

352 applications for 198 places · 66th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.8of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

61st of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 10 October 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

1.8applications per place, Year 7

1.2 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

352 applications · 198 places offered · 119 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 2.3; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	198	352	1.8	119	0.60
Sep 2025	180	318	1.8	107	0.59
Sep 2024	165	224	1.4	69	0.42
Sep 2023	169	258	1.5	74	0.44
Sep 2022	189	278	1.5	82	0.43
Sep 2021	183	321	1.8	90	0.49
Sep 2020	235	422	1.8	123	0.52
Sep 2019	238	484	2.0	149	0.63
Sep 2018	218	503	2.3	150	0.69
Sep 2017	238	558	2.3	192	0.81
Sep 2016	210	485	2.3	150	0.71
Sep 2015	205	511	2.5	154	0.75
Sep 2014	194	439	2.3	142	0.73

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

159 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.861st of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%63rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths59%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.07

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	159	42.8	38%	59%	–
2024/25	190	45.0	41%	65%	–
2023/24	216	44.3	38%	62%	−0.07
2022/23	180	41.1	36%	63%	−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

St Mary's Church of England High School (VA)This school
This school

Good2023

1.8applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Goffs - Churchgate Academy
1.0 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.2applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
Goffs Academy
1.2 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

3.0applications per place 50.6Attainment 8
The Lea Valley Academy
2.0 km · Enfield

Good2022

2.4applications per place 34.4Attainment 8
St Ignatius College
2.6 km · Enfield

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place 57.4Attainment 8
Haileybury Turnford
2.7 km · Hertfordshire

2026

2.1applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
Oasis Academy Enfield
3.4 km · Enfield

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.9applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
Ark John Keats Academy
3.6 km · Enfield

Good2023

3.4applications per place 50.4Attainment 8
Chace Community School
4.2 km · Enfield

Good2022

3.0applications per place 39.5Attainment 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: 138360 · 919/5423
Trust: St Mary's CE Academy, Cheshunt
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 1,400 pupils · 911 on roll
Free school meals: 28.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 July 2012
Replaced: St Mary's Church of England High School (VA) (URN 117595)
Address: Lieutenant Ellis Way, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN7 5FB
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Broxbourne

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