Ages 
An extremely popular semi-selective school where boys really do lap up the academic stretch, along with some great extracurricular opportunities, especially on the musical and sporting fronts.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,623 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 490 ·
- Religion
- C of E
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headteacher
Mr I Cooksey
Since 2015, Ian Cooksey MA (Oxon) MA (Lond), previously head at Dr Challoner’s High for four years. Studied biological sciences at Oxford. A state sector stalwart, his teaching career began at top grammar Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames, where he
Entrance
Semi-selective and heavily oversubscribed, with around 900 applicants for 224 year 7 places. Sixty-five per cent go to those in the right WD or HA postcodes (we’re talking hundreds of metres from school), with the remaining places reserved for
- Open days
- See website
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Around 18 per cent leave after GCSEs – some don’t get the grades to stay on, others just want a change or do apprenticeships or vocational courses at West Herts College. Nearly all sixth formers to university, around 65 per cent to Russell Group.
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 54 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 49 per cent A*/A at A level (72 per cent A*-B).
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Impressive results, considering only a quarter of the boys are academically selected. Head says those entering the school with lower attainment levels are pulled up by the cohort – and the admirable value-added scores speak for themselves. Parents
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Just over 11 per cent are on the SEN register, with 58 EHCPs – the latter well above average and nearly double what it was last time we were here. The school has clearly become a victim of its own reputation. ‘It is a challenge,’ acknowledges the
Arts & extracurricular
Known for music, which parents describe as ‘dazzling’ – ‘and you don’t need to be classically trained, there really is breadth and depth’. School shares spectacular music centre, the Clarendon Muse, with the Watford School of Music, which has 22
Sport
Lots of it, with rugby, hockey and cricket the mainstays (note no football, which comes to life instead at break times when we took our lives in our hands dodging flying balls). Plenty of silverware for all three, with the boys regularly smashing
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1704 by Dame Elizabeth Fuller as the Watford Free School, then split into two single-sex schools in 1884 which were renamed grammars in 1903. As with its sister school, it oozes grammar school character (and was, in fact, used as the set
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Boys told us the school has ‘added clarity’ to messaging around mental health and wellbeing, ‘and they’ve done a lot to break down stigmas, for example by showing videos of footballers talking about it’. Form teachers are first port of call for any
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Pupils (Years 7 -11) are not allowed to use personal mobile phones in school. Mobile phones must be kept turned off and out of sight at all times whilst students are on the school site. The school site includes the New Field. This prohibition also extends beyond the school site for school activities, for example where students are on school trips or walking between the main school site and the New Field at lunchtime. For the purposes of this policy, ‘mobile phones’ includes smart watches. Students in Years 12 & 13 are allowed to use mobile phones in the sixth form café area and the terrace outside the sixth form centre. Phones must be out of sight in the sixth form study areas but may be used to listen to music/podcasts through headphones/airpods in these areas.
Pupils & parents
It's cool to want to learn here, so the boys – whom we found talkative and courteous – are serious about their studies, though not without a twinkle in their eye. Majority of families are middle class, with around 10 per cent of boys on pupil
The last word
An extremely popular semi-selective school where boys really do lap up the academic stretch, along with some great extracurricular opportunities, especially on the musical and sporting fronts.
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Outstanding
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
