What is Hertswood Academy's Ofsted rating?

Hertswood Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This is the overall judgement recorded under the inspection framework in use on the inspection date. Read the report and date before comparing it with newer inspections.

What does the admissions demand data show for Hertswood Academy?

Hertswood Academy recorded 165 first-choice applications and 209 offers made on national offer day for 2026/27. That is 0.8 first-choice applications per offer made. This is a historic demand signal, not an individual admission probability or a catchment boundary. Admission criteria, address, preferences and the applicant cohort also matter.

Does Hertswood Academy offer SEND support?

DfE data for Hertswood Academy lists these SEND need or provision categories: Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication, Hearing Impairment, and 4 more categories. This does not guarantee a particular place or service. Contact the school's SENCO for its current provision.

What are Hertswood Academy's exam results?

Hertswood Academy's published exam results include: Average A-Level grade: C+ (2024/25); 27% achieved grade 5+ in English and Maths GCSE; Attainment 8 score of 38.3. Check the result year before comparing schools.

Hertswood Academy

#7 in Best Secondary Schools in Hertsmere area

Parent reviews

Pupils: 1,144
Ages: 11–18
Gender: Mixed
School type: Academy converter

About

Hertswood Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Hertsmere, East of England, for pupils aged 11 to 18 for boys and girls. DfE data records 1,144 pupils on roll and a published capacity of 1,861.

The latest recorded Ofsted overall judgement is Good (11 Feb 2025). The published Attainment 8 score was 38.3 for 2024/25. The published A-level average grade was C+ for 2024/25. Admissions data records 165 first-preference applications and 209 offers made on national offer day for 2026/27.

Reporting periods vary by source — Methodology.

School Rating

2/10

Classpot Rating

Hertswood Academy’s combined academic results and attendance score is in the lower band compared with mainstream state secondary schools across England for 2024/25.

2/10Academic results

Lower

The school’s Attainment 8 score was 38.3 in 2024/25. This measures average attainment across eight GCSE-level qualifications, using DfE’s subject weighting rules.

The score compares this result with 3,058 mainstream state secondary schools in England with both required measures for 2024/25. Academic attainment contributes 90% of the combined score. It measures exam or assessment results, not how much progress pupils made from their starting points.

1/10Attendance

Much lower

Overall absence was 11.86% of possible school sessions in 2024/25. This includes authorised and unauthorised absence; it is not the percentage of pupils who were persistently absent.

The score compares absence with 3,058 mainstream state secondary schools in England with both required measures for 2024/25. Lower absence receives a higher score. Attendance contributes 10% of the combined score and does not on its own measure teaching quality.

NAPupil progress

Not available for 2024/25

DfE did not publish Progress 8 for 2024/25 because the required KS2 assessments were cancelled during the pandemic. Progress would compare pupils’ outcomes with those of pupils with similar earlier attainment.

Pupil progress is not included in this version of Classpot Rating. Its absence does not reduce the school’s score.

Methodology and official sources

Contact Information

02082387200 www.hertswoodacademy.org

Cowley Hill, Borehamwood, Hertsmere, WD6 5LG

Wanda Gill

Details

School Type: Secondary (State)
Age Range: 11 to 18 years
Gender: Mixed
Establishment type: Academy converter
Local Authority: Hertfordshire
Sixth Form: Yes

The full reporton this school

School admissions data, what the Ofsted report means for you, and how it compares to nearby schools.

See an example

One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

Not judged

Based on 11 Feb 2025 · Legacy grading · Open inspection report ↗

Inspection judgements
Area	Judgement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour & attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership & management	Good
Sixth-form provision	Good

Previous inspection · 22 Jun 2022Legacy grading · Requires improvement

Previous inspection judgements
Area	Judgement
Overall effectiveness	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Requires improvement
Behaviour & attitudes	Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership & management	Requires improvement
Sixth-form provision	Good

Published 7 May 2025.

Ofsted legacy grades; compare inspection dates and frameworks.

Catchment & distance

Distance unavailable; check admission criteria with the school or council.

Admissions

Application dates · 2027/28 entry
Measure	Value
School’s local authority	Hertfordshire
Applications open	Usually 1 September 2026
Application deadline	31 October 2026
National offer day	1 March 2027

Apply through your home council; confirm local dates and any extra school forms.

Admissions demand · 2026/27
Measure	Value
Offers made on National Offer Day	209
First-preference applications	165
Applications (all preferences)	212
First-preference offers	165

Source: Published admissions data; follow each measure’s labelled basis, including all preferences where shown.

School performance

GCSE results

GCSE results · 2024/25
Measure	Value
Attainment 8 (average score)	38.3
English & maths: grades 9–4	49.8%
English & maths: grades 9–5	27.4%
EBacc entry	52%
EBacc grades 9–4	12.1%
EBacc grades 9–5	5.8%
EBacc average point score	3.47

DfE · 2024/25; compare the same year and measure (— unavailable or suppressed).

After age 16

A-level results

A-level results · 2024/25
Measure	Value
Average points per entry	34.04
Best three A-levels: average points	37.4
Value added	0.19
Value added: lower confidence limit	0.03
Value added: upper confidence limit	0.36
AAB or higher (including two facilitating subjects)	9.8%
Pupils	68
Average grade	C+
Best three A-levels: average grade	B-
Published progress band	Above average

DfE · 2024/25; compare the same year and measure (— unavailable or suppressed).

Destinations after GCSE · 2022/23
Destination	Pupils
This school’s sixth form	42.7%
Sixth-form college	0.5%
Further education college	37.2%
Apprenticeship	2.8%
Employment	2.8%
Not sustained	9.2%
Unknown	5%

Cohort: 218 pupils · Sustained education or employment: 85.8%

DfE destinations follow school leavers, not current pupils.

Destinations after A-levels · 2022/23
Destination	Pupils
Higher education	63.5%
Further education	1.4%
Other education	1.4%
Apprenticeship	1.4%
Employment	18.9%
Not sustained	6.8%
Unknown	6.8%

Cohort: 74 pupils · Sustained education or employment: 86.5%

DfE destinations follow school leavers, not current pupils.

A-level subjects

2024/25 · Published entries

Mathematics27 entries
Psychology18 entries
Art and Design16 entries
Biology15 entries
Business Studies13 entries
Photography13 entries
History12 entries
Physics12 entries
Mathematics (Further)9 entries
Sociology7 entries
English Language and Literature6 entries
Government and Politics6 entries
Chemistry5 entries
English Literature4 entries
Drama and Theatre Studies3 entries

DfE subject entries; pupils may take multiple subjects.

Students and teachers

17.9 pupils per qualified teacher

2025/26 · Full-time equivalent teachers, not class size.

Students

Number of pupilsPeriod not recorded: 1144
School capacityPeriod not recorded: 1861
Free school meals (FSM)2025/26: 30.7%
English as an additional language (EAL)2025/26: 32.8%
Attendance2024/25: 88.14%
Persistent absence (10% or more of sessions)2024/25: 36.34%

Classes & attendance

Average class size2025/26: 22.3
Suspensions per 100 pupils2024/25: 24.13
Suspensions (count)2024/25: 283
Permanent exclusions per 100 pupils2024/25: 0.17
Permanent exclusions (count)2024/25: 2

More pupil data

Absence breakdown
Measure	Value
Authorised absence2024/25	5.7%
Unauthorised absence2024/25	6.16%

Ethnic background · 2025/26
Group	Pupils
White British	49.1%
White other	21.3%
Mixed	8.1%
Asian	6.1%
Black	11.9%
Other	2.9%

DfE school, census, workforce, absence and exclusion data; periods vary, and missing values are not zero.

Published SEND Data

Autism
Dyslexia
Mental Health
Speech & Language
Hearing
Physical
Learning Difficulty
Multi-Sensory
Other

DfE data; confirm current support with the school's SENCO.

Ofsted Parent View

54% would recommend this school

71 responses · Sep 2024 – Sep 2025

Parent survey responses
Question	Agree or strongly agree
Happy at school	65%
Feels safe	60%
Well behaved pupils	41%
Bullying dealt with	26%

Additional parent survey responses
Question	Agree or strongly agree
Aware of curriculum	57%
Concerns dealt with	43%
SEND support	26%
High expectations	65%
Child does well	65%
Progress updates	67%
Subject range	75%
Clubs & activities	85%
Personal development	56%

FAQ about Hertswood Academy

Results: Published results describe a past pupil cohort. Compare the same measure and reporting year; attainment and progress measure different things. Understanding secondary results.

Inspection: Read the inspection date and full report alongside the headline judgement. Schools inspected under different frameworks cannot be compared using a headline grade alone. Understanding Ofsted inspections.

Admissions: Applications and places describe past demand, not your child’s chance of an offer. Check the entry year and current admission criteria, including any priority groups. School admissions timeline.

Explore schools and nurseries in Hertsmere area