Future Academies Watford
75%
Capacity
1,018
Pupils
1.0x
Demand
About Future Academies Watford
Future Academies Watford sits below the Hertfordshire local authority average for Progress 8, with a score of -0.16 against the LA average of 0.18. That gap is significant, and it places the school 57th out of 86 similar schools in the county. But the picture isn't straightforward. The school's Progress 8 banding is still classed as 'Average' nationally, and within that headline figure there are real variations by subject. English pulls up, with a Progress 8 score of +0.14, while maths is close to the national average at -0.06. The drag comes from the EBacc subjects and the 'open' bucket, which includes other GCSEs. So while the overall number looks modest against local peers, it's not a uniform story of underperformance. The school also has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 34.2%, well above the national average, which provides important context for these results.
Academically, the school's Attainment 8 score sits at 39.4, and just over half of pupils (58.4%) achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.55, and only 9.6% of pupils entered the full EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above. At A-level, the school's value added score of 0.19 is positive, with a 'C' grade average across best three A-levels and 31.58 points per entry. The sixth form is small, with 43 pupils in the data, and is rated Good by Ofsted. The most recent inspection in 2025 saw the school jump from a Requires Improvement rating to Good overall, with leadership and management and personal development both judged Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, quality of education, and sixth form provision all received Good grades. Parent feedback is strong: 82% would recommend the school, and 87% agree or strongly agree their child is happy.
The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a capacity of 1,350 and currently 1,018 pupils on roll. It was not oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 256 applications for 267 places and 91 first-preference offers. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. There is a wide range of SEND provisions, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Parents of SEND children are particularly positive: 79% strongly agree the school gives them the support they need. The school offers a good range of clubs, from Model UN and debating to gardening and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For families in Watford, this is a school that has made clear progress in recent years, with strong leadership and a sixth form that adds value, though its GCSE results still trail the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Horseshoe Lane, Watford, Watford, WD25 7HW |
| Headteacher | Sam Fox |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,018 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,018 / 1,350 (75% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Apr 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.16)
1904th of 3,141
Nationally
221st of 350
In East of England
4th of 4
In Watford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
29.7
'22/23
18.2
'23/24
31.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2341%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 188 pupils).
- FE college44%
- School sixth form (stay)41%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship3%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 49 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
14%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology36
- Sociology17
- Media/Film/Tv Studies11
- Art and Design (Fine Art)9
- Biology9
- Design and Technology (Product Design)9
- History9
- English Literature8
- Mathematics8
- Physics7
- Chemistry4
- Government and Politics4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
78 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26267
256
Places Available
More places available than applications received
91 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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 British59.8%
- White (other)10.6%
- Mixed9.1%
- Asian8.2%
- Black1.0%
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Future Academies Watford
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
Contact Information
Horseshoe Lane, Watford
Watford, WD25 7HW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Future Academies Watford!
Write a Review