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Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Hitchin Boys' School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,364Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • BoysPupils
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 139154URN

Grammar School Walk, Hitchin, SG5 1JB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Nov 2025

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

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

399 applications for 203 places · 64th of 77 in Hertfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
56.8of 90
19th of 78 in Hertfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 25 November 2025Published 1 February 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExceptional
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementStrong standard
Attendance and behaviourExceptional
Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExceptional
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 25 November 2025
    Report card · 4 Exceptional, 3 Strong standard
  2. 22 September 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains 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
2.0applications per place, Year 7
1.0 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

399 applications · 203 places offered · 237 named it first

  1. 2026 2.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  2. 2025 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  3. 2024 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  4. 2023 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  5. 2022 2.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  6. 2021 2.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
  7. 2020 2.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
  8. 2019 2.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
  9. 2018 2.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  10. 2017 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  11. 2016 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
  12. 2015 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
  13. 2014 3.4; 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262033992.02371.17
Sep 20252014812.42631.31
Sep 20242064862.42441.18
Sep 20232064902.42631.28
Sep 20222094682.22321.11
Sep 20212085302.62181.05
Sep 20202065342.62251.09
Sep 20192085552.72151.03
Sep 20182086042.92211.06
Sep 20171665623.42091.26
Sep 20161625533.41821.12
Sep 20151635703.52091.28
Sep 20141655653.42001.21

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

210 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)56.819th of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths65%21st of 78 in Hertfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths84%
  • This school
  • Hertfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.57
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)21056.865%84%–
2024/2521057.167%87%–
2023/2420856.365%89%+0.57
2022/2320857.171%87%+0.39

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
139154 · 919/4008
Trust
Hitchin Boys' School
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,400 pupils · 1,364 on roll
Free school meals
8.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 January 2013
Replaced
Hitchin Boys' School (URN 117502)
Address
Grammar School Walk, Hitchin, SG5 1JB
Local authority
Hertfordshire · North Hertfordshire

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