Parmiter's School
105%
Capacity
1,464
Pupils
7.3x
Demand
About Parmiter's School
Parmiter's School is one of the most sought-after state secondaries in Hertfordshire, and the numbers tell you why. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 1,451 applications for just 198 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 7.33. Of those, 556 families put it as their first preference, and 176 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand is a strong signal from local parents, and it's backed up by the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, which awarded Outstanding across every single category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. It's a clean sweep of top grades, and the school has held an Outstanding rating consistently since at least its previous inspection in 2011.
Academically, Parmiter's is performing well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.74 is classified as 'Well above average', meaning pupils here make nearly three-quarters of a grade more progress per subject than similar students nationally. That puts it first among the seven secondary schools in the Three Rivers local authority area, and 27th out of 350 schools in the East of England region. The Attainment 8 score sits at 68.3, and 94.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also has a strong EBacc focus, with 73% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects and 62.1% achieving a grade 4 or above across all five components. At A-level, the average points per entry is 42.51, equivalent to a B+ grade, and the school's value-added score of 0.11 is rated 'Above average', with 38% of entries achieving AAB or higher.
The school is well equipped to support a wide range of students. Its facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, science labs, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are clubs covering everything from debate and Model UN to rowing, martial arts, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Parmiter's also has a comprehensive SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 1,464 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,392, the school is slightly over capacity, and the 7.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals is below the national average. This is a high-performing, heavily oversubscribed school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, but securing a place is extremely competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | High Elms Lane, Watford, Three Rivers, WD25 0UU |
| Headteacher | Anthony Smith |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,464 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 7.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,464 / 1,392 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.74)
236th of 3,141
Nationally
27th of 350
In East of England
1st of 7
In Three Rivers
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
46.3
'22/23
41.7
'23/24
42.5
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
2022/2371%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 207 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)71%
- FE college19%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
- Sixth form college1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2384%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 193 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
60%
Russell Group
68%
Top-third HE
6%
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)84%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained2%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Mathematics103
- Biology54
- Physics46
- Psychology43
- Chemistry42
- Economics41
- Geography38
- History33
- Government and Politics28
- English Literature26
- Computer Studies / Computing22
- Sociology18
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed198
1,451
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
556 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:20
Source: parmiters.herts.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian35.5%
- White British35.1%
- Mixed10.0%
- White (other)9.2%
- Black0.5%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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
4
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 Parmiter's 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
High Elms Lane, Watford
Three Rivers, WD25 0UU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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