The Chauncy School
149%
Capacity
1,515
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About The Chauncy School
The Chauncy School is a mixed, non-religious state secondary in East Hertfordshire, part of the Hertfordshire local authority which has 86 secondary schools. Measured by Progress 8, it ranks 4th out of 10 schools in its immediate borough and sits 20th out of 86 across the wider LA. The top-performing peers in Hertfordshire are Sandringham School, Yavneh College, and Dame Alice Owen's School, all with higher ranking scores. The nearest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Presdales School, 1.7 km away. Chauncy is led by headteacher Steve Walton and has 1,515 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,014, making it significantly oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, 612 families applied for 223 places, and 199 of the 202 first-preference applicants secured a spot. The school also operates a sixth form, which was rated Outstanding in its most recent inspection.
Academically, Chauncy delivers well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.53 means pupils achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar students nationally, and the school ranks 55th out of 350 secondaries in the East of England. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.18, so Chauncy comfortably outperforms that. At KS4, 75.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score sits at 51.9. The EBacc average point score is 4.45, with 25% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 37.63, equivalent to a B- grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B. The value-added score of 0.33 is rated above average, and 16.1% of entries achieved AAB or higher. Ofsted last graded the school Outstanding in 2017, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Outstanding, with leadership, management, and sixth-form provision all judged Outstanding.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, an ICT suite, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include athletics, basketball, cricket, netball, swimming, and martial arts, while clubs range from art and book club to coding, chess, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and Young Enterprise. For SEND, Chauncy supports a broad range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 16.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Given its strong outcomes, oversubscription, and comprehensive facilities, Chauncy suits families who want a high-performing state secondary with a thriving sixth form and a clear track record of adding value beyond the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Park Road, Ware, East Hertfordshire, SG12 0DP |
| Headteacher | Steve Walton |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,515 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,515 / 1,014 (149% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (21 Jun 2023): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Nov 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.53)
466th of 3,141
Nationally
55th of 350
In East of England
4th of 10
In East Hertfordshire
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
39.8
'22/23
37.5
'23/24
37.6
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
2022/2352%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 155 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)52%
- FE college37%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained2%
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
2022/2352%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 111 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
8%
Russell Group
11%
Top-third HE
1%
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)52%
- Employment29%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education3%
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- Geography16
- Art and Design (Photography)13
- Mathematics13
- English Literature12
- Economics11
- History10
- Sociology10
- Psychology8
- Religious Studies8
- Government and Politics7
- Biology6
- Media/Film/Tv Studies6
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
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed223
612
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
202 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.6%
- Mixed3.9%
- White (other)3.6%
- Asian2.7%
- Black0.1%
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.
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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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 The Chauncy 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
Park Road, Ware
East Hertfordshire, SG12 0DP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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