The Hereford Church of England Academy
82%
Capacity
618
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About The Hereford Church of England Academy
The Hereford Church of England Academy received a Requires Improvement rating in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a grade it has held across both its recent inspections. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -1.09, which places the school in the bottom 50 nationally and ranks it 15th out of 15 secondary schools in Herefordshire. This score is well below the local authority average of -0.22, indicating that pupils here make significantly less academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs compared with their peers across the county. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 33.5, and only 23% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. On a more positive note, Ofsted rated Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management all as Good in the 2024 inspection, suggesting that while academic outcomes need work, the school’s culture and leadership are on a firmer footing.
The school’s Progress 8 breakdown reveals consistent underperformance across all subject areas. English progress is -1.26, maths is -1.15, and the EBacc subjects sit at -1.12, with the open element at -1.0. Just 10.6% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above, and the EBacc average point score is 2.91. These figures place the school in the bottom percentile nationally for progress. However, the Ofsted report notes that Personal Development is Good, and the school has a Christian character that may appeal to some families. The previous inspection in 2021 also rated Personal Development as Outstanding, so there is a track record of strength in this area. With 38.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage, which is an important context for interpreting its results.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 157 applications for 143 places and 116 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.1. It has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, science labs, and sports hall, plus clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, and coding. SEND provisions cover dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs, among others. There is no sixth form, so pupils must plan for post-16 options elsewhere. This school will suit families who value a supportive personal development environment and a Christian ethos, but who are prepared for the fact that academic outcomes are currently well below local and national averages. The Good ratings for behaviour and leadership suggest the school is stable and working on improvement, but the data shows there is a long way to go.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Marlbrook Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, County of, HR2 7NG |
| Headteacher | Michael Stoppard |
| Local Authority | Herefordshire, County of |
| Number of Pupils | 618 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.8% |
| School Capacity | 618 / 750 (82% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 17 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.09)
3046th of 3,141
Nationally
358th of 371
In West Midlands
15th of 15
In Herefordshire, County of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2354%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 99 pupils).
- FE college54%
- Not sustained16%
- Sixth form college15%
- Employment12%
- Apprenticeship3%
84% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed143
157
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
116 families put this school as their 1st choice (74% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:25
Source: theherefordacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.6%
- White (other)12.5%
- Mixed3.2%
- Asian1.7%
- 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.
75% 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.
5
Total schools
5
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 The Hereford Church of England Academy
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
Marlbrook Road, Hereford
Herefordshire, County of, HR2 7NG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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