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The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College

East Hertfordshire, CM23 5NJSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Nov 2023
Progress 8
+0.65
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
231 1st-choice / 186 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#326 of 3,141 nationally

About The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College

The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College is a girls' state secondary in East Hertfordshire that significantly outperforms the local authority average on the headline Progress 8 measure. With a Progress 8 score of 0.65, the school sits well above the Hertfordshire average of 0.18 for schools of its type, placing it 14th out of 86 schools in the county. This score is banded as "well above average" nationally, and within East Hertfordshire it ranks first among ten schools. The school's Attainment 8 score of 63.3 and its EBacc average point score of 5.84 further underline strong academic performance. It is also heavily oversubscribed: for 186 places in 2025/26, the school received 534 applications, with 231 first-preference applications and an oversubscription ratio of 2.87. This level of demand reflects its reputation as a high-performing selective girls' school in the region.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterNone
AddressWarwick Road, Bishop's Stortford, East Hertfordshire, CM23 5NJ
HeadteacherCathy Tooze
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils1,450
Free School Meals (FSM)5.2%
School Capacity1,450 / 1,360 (107% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

14 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 14 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
LibrarySwimming PoolPlaying FieldsGymnasiumMusic RoomsSports HallTennis CourtsAstro TurfTheatreDining HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

SwimmingTennisRowingDanceCross CountryGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DramaYoung EnterpriseCodingBook ClubChessDuke of EdinburghModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College

The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.