This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 25 April 2024Ungraded inspection: School remains Outstanding
- 9 May 2018Graded inspection: 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 entry669 applications · 124 places offered · 146 named it first
- 2026 5.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2025 5.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2024 5.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2023 6.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2022 7.2; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2021 5.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
- 2020 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
- 2019 5.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
- 2018 4.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2017 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2016 5.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
- 2015 5.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
- 2014 5.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
- This school
- Hertfordshire median
Reception entry, September 2026: 4.1 per place (247 applications for 60 places).
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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 | 124 | 669 | 5.4 | 146 | 1.18 |
| Sep 2025 | 123 | 635 | 5.2 | 152 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2024 | 128 | 728 | 5.7 | 140 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2023 | 114 | 749 | 6.6 | 167 | 1.46 |
| Sep 2022 | 112 | 803 | 7.2 | 197 | 1.76 |
| Sep 2021 | 173 | 914 | 5.3 | 260 | 1.50 |
| Sep 2020 | 177 | 892 | 5.0 | 258 | 1.46 |
| Sep 2019 | 175 | 962 | 5.5 | 284 | 1.62 |
| Sep 2018 | 178 | 867 | 4.9 | 187 | 1.05 |
| Sep 2017 | 178 | 887 | 5.0 | 205 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2016 | 172 | 868 | 5.1 | 191 | 1.11 |
| Sep 2015 | 170 | 907 | 5.3 | 203 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2014 | 163 | 888 | 5.5 | 183 | 1.12 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 169 | 52.9 | 57% | 76% | – |
| 2024/25 | 177 | 55.4 | 64% | 84% | – |
| 2023/24 | 176 | 52.9 | 60% | 82% | +0.45 |
| 2022/23 | 171 | 48.6 | 53% | 75% | +0.03 |
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
- Simon Balle All-Through SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Outstanding20245.4applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
- 0.6 km · HertfordshireGood20243.1applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · HertfordshireGraded · no overall grade20252.2applications per place 35.1Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · HertfordshireOutstanding20242.5applications per place 58.7Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · HertfordshireRemains Outstanding20233.0applications per place 49.4Attainment 8
- 5.1 km · HertfordshireSpecial measures Inadequate20221.8applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
- 5.6 km · HertfordshireGood20232.8applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 6.6 km · HertfordshireOutstanding20244.1applications per place 53.5Attainment 8
- 7.6 km · HertfordshireGraded · no overall grade20251.7applications per place 37.4Attainment 8
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- All-through
- URN · DfE number
- 140294 · 919/4067
- Trust
- The Laurel Education Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,037 pupils · 1,617 on roll
- Free school meals
- 9.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 November 2013
- Replaced
- Simon Balle School (URN 117519)
- Address
- Mangrove Road, Hertford, SG13 8AJ
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire · East Hertfordshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources