Aylestone School
100%
Capacity
449
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Aylestone School
Aylestone School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.8 sits well below the Herefordshire local authority average of -0.22 for secondary schools, placing it 14th out of 18 schools of its type in the county. This means pupils here, on average, achieve nearly a grade less per subject than students across similar schools in the area. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 35.9 is also notably low, and its Progress 8 banding is classified as “well below average” nationally. While the local authority itself has a negative average Progress 8 score, Aylestone’s figure is significantly more negative, suggesting the school faces particular challenges in driving academic progress compared with its peers. The gap is especially pronounced in open subjects and English, where Progress 8 scores dip to -1.11 and -0.84 respectively, though maths fares slightly better at -0.19.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024, Aylestone School was rated Requires Improvement overall, a repeat of its 2021 rating. However, inspectors noted two areas of Good practice: personal development and behaviour and attitudes. The school’s leadership and management, quality of education, and overall effectiveness all remain at Requires Improvement. On the academic front, just 35.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, and only 6.6% entered the EBacc. The EBacc average point score sits at 3.03, and the school’s ranking in the West Midlands region is 344th out of 371 schools. With no sixth form, pupils leave at 16, and the school’s capacity is nearly full at 449 pupils out of 450 places.
Aylestone School is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 209 applications for 85 places and 74 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.46. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a sports hall, plus clubs such as eco club, chess, and drama. It has a strong SEND provision, with support for specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and a resourced provision. Given its academic outcomes, this school may suit families who prioritise a supportive environment for pupils with additional needs over high exam performance, or those who value the personal development and behaviour noted by Ofsted. The nearest outstanding school, St Mary’s RC High School, is 2.4 km away, offering a contrasting academic profile for those considering alternatives.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Broadlands House, Hereford, Herefordshire, County of, HR1 1HY |
| Headteacher | Simon Robertson |
| Local Authority | Herefordshire, County of |
| Number of Pupils | 449 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.7% |
| School Capacity | 449 / 450 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.80)
2922nd of 3,141
Nationally
344th of 371
In West Midlands
14th of 15
In Herefordshire, County of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed85
209
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
74 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.2%
- White (other)12.7%
- Mixed3.2%
- Asian1.6%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aylestone School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Broadlands House, Hereford
Herefordshire, County of, HR1 1HY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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