Monk's Walk School
100%
Capacity
1,436
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Monk's Walk School
Monk's Walk School in Welwyn Hatfield holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its previous inspection in 2011. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.24, which places it above the national average and above the Hertfordshire local authority average of 0.18. This means that, on average, pupils at Monk's Walk achieve nearly a quarter of a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks third out of five secondary schools in the Welwyn Hatfield borough by this measure, and sits in the top 30% of schools nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 50.4 confirms that the average GCSE grade across eight subjects is around a strong pass, with 74.1% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
At A-level, the school's value-added score of 0.18 is also above average, and its progress banding is rated 'Above average'. The average points per entry is 36.49, equivalent to a B- grade, and 18.8% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher. The sixth form is a significant part of the school, with 123 pupils in the cohort. In English and maths specifically, the school's Progress 8 breakdown shows stronger progress in maths (0.25) than in English (0.11), while the EBacc element is notably strong at 0.36. Only 17.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, which is lower than the national average, but those who did performed well, with an EBacc average point score of 4.38.
Monk's Walk is a large, oversubscribed school with 1,436 pupils on roll, just above its stated capacity of 1,430. For the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 596 applications for 226 places, with 221 first-preference applications and 188 offers made to first-preference families. The oversubscription ratio of 2.64 applicants per place reflects strong local demand. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Its SEND provisions cover nine areas, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language needs. With a strong academic record, a broad extracurricular programme spanning rowing, martial arts, and Model UN, and a sixth form that adds clear value, Monk's Walk suits families looking for a well-performing comprehensive with genuine sixth-form strength.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn Hatfield, AL8 7NL |
| Headteacher | Matt Grinyer |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,436 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,436 / 1,430 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Sept 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 25 Jun 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.24)
962nd of 3,141
Nationally
103rd of 350
In East of England
3rd of 5
In Welwyn Hatfield
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
42.0
'22/23
36.0
'23/24
36.5
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
2022/2359%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 219 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)59%
- FE college32%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
97% 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
2022/2361%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 122 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)61%
- Employment20%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Other education1%
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- Mathematics27
- Psychology27
- Business Studies:Single25
- Biology17
- Sociology17
- Physics16
- Art and Design (Photography)15
- English Literature15
- Economics14
- Geography14
- History14
- Art and Design (Fine Art)13
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed226
596
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
221 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:20
Source: monkswalk.herts.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.5%
- Mixed9.9%
- White (other)7.0%
- Asian5.4%
- Black0.2%
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.
Half 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.
7
Total schools
6
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Monk's Walk 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
Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Hatfield, AL8 7NL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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