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Hitchin Girls' School

North Hertfordshire, SG4 9RSSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Oct 2024
Progress 8
+0.62
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
266 1st-choice / 204 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#353 of 3,141 nationally

About Hitchin Girls' School

Hitchin Girls' School is a girls' secondary school in North Hertfordshire that is heavily oversubscribed, a clear signal of its popularity among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 486 applications for 204 places, with 266 of those listing it as a first preference, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.38. The school is currently home to 1,356 pupils, just shy of its 1,400 capacity, and its intake reflects a relatively low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 8.1 per cent, compared with the national average of around 23 per cent. This demographic profile is consistent with a school that draws from a broadly affluent catchment area. The school is non-denominational and operates as a state-funded girls' school with a co-educational sixth form, and is led by headteacher James Crowther.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHighbury Road, Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, SG4 9RS
HeadteacherJames Crowther
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils1,356
Free School Meals (FSM)8.1%
School Capacity1,356 / 1,400 (97% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 323 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Oct 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 11 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Art StudiosSports HallScience LabsDining HallLibraryTheatreSixth Form CentreGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

CricketBadmintonBasketballTennisGymnasticsSwimmingRugbyFootballMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraDebateBook ClubCodingDuke of EdinburghArt ClubYoung EnterpriseNewspaperEco ClubScience ClubModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hitchin Girls' School

Hitchin Girls' School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.