Bishop's Stortford College

Since September 2024, John Maguire, the 11th head of the college. Studied geography and geology and his master’s at Leicester and holds a postgraduate degree at Newcastle and High Impact Leadership (HIL) from Cambridge University. Parents describe

Via school’s own tests in English and maths, plus CAT4 tests, school references and interviews. Not super selective, however, with school looking for scores of 115+ – and they will review anything above 105 if there is strength elsewhere, eg arts,

Between 10 and 15 per cent leave after GCSEs – mostly for financial reasons, some to study BTECs. Nearly all sixth formers to university, 85 per cent to Russell Group. Exeter, York, Durham, Nottingham and Newcastle popular. Three to Oxbridge in 2025.

In 2025, 78 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 55 per cent A*/A at A level (83 per cent A*-B).

Already solid results continue to rise – not through hothousing, say parents, but ‘by producing happy, confident children’ who have access to ‘top-notch teaching’ and a ‘huge amount of support systems’ including 24 different clinics that run all year

One full-time SENCo for both prep and senior, supported by a small team of specialists in dyslexia, English and maths. They look after the 18 per cent on the SEN register. Mainly for autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia, SpLD and some ADHD and

Music is valued, both in terms of playing for pleasure (music scholars don’t have to take GCSE or A level) and developing elite musicians. Every assembly opens with a student performing and there are concerts for every level, including joint with

Sport has always been a strength and so the recent dip, where a few parents felt the college had slipped to a resistant second to local competitors, is relative – and happily, all agree the school is now back on an upward trajectory thanks to current

Four boarding houses – two for boys and two for girls. All include day students too. Most boarders are full-time, the rest flexi or weekly, and there’s now ‘day plus’ packages of 7.15am to 7.15pm. We saw Trotman House (girls), light and spacious

‘A culture of kindness’ is a reason many choose the school. The house system provides the pastoral base and includes 10 physical houses (six for day students, four for a mix of boarders and day students) where snacks, drinks and house staff are

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Best suited to more organised children ‘who can self-manage and are self-motivated,’ say parents, although there’s support for both. Younger students we met were shy, older ones engaging and chatty. All value the close relationships they form with

Academic, music, art and sport scholarships at 13+ – same again at 16+ with the addition of IDE and drama ones. Worth up to 50 per cent of school fees, though most are capped at 25 per cent. Means-tested bursaries plentiful – over 30 students have

A joyous, scholarly and busy school where students come out with great results and a love of learning – and where the extracurricular and pastoral are integral, not the cherry on top. Inspirational leadership is taking just about every area of the