Fearnhill School
About Fearnhill School
Fearnhill School is a mixed state secondary in North Hertfordshire that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 293 applications for just 109 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.69. Of those applications, 96 were first-preference choices, and 96 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, even though the school itself doesn't publish a parent-view recommendation percentage in the data. The headteacher is Tim Spencer, and the school has capacity for 1,055 pupils but currently has just 601 on roll, so there is room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 37.3%, which is notably high and gives a sense of the community the school serves. Fearnhill also has a sixth form, a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a chapel among its facilities, which adds to its appeal.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Sept 2022Source: Ofsted, 17 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: fearnhill.herts.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fearnhill 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications