Schools by area › Hertfordshire › Townsend Church of England School
Townsend Church of England School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided
High Oaks, St Albans AL3 6DR · townsend.herts.sch.uk · 01727 853047
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 746
- 87% of 853 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 26.4%
- First language not English
- 20.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 80 families put the school first and 168 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 168 | 80 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 173 | 58 | 0.3 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 145 | 68 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 154 | 71 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 148 | 84 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.7, and 40.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (28 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼40.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼61.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼16.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ●3.92 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 52.1 | +7.1 |
| Sixth form college | 0.7 | −1.4 |
| Further education | 33.6 | −9.3 |
| Other education | 0.7 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.1 | — |
| Employment | 2.9 | +1.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.3 | −1.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.6 | +1.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 students | C- (28) | Average -0.02 | |
| 28 students | C- (27.5) | Average -0.05 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39 | C+ (33.6) | +0.18 |
| 2022/23 | 35 | C- (25.2) | — |
| 2021/22 | 44 | C (31.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 40 | D (21.1) | -0.41 |
| 2017/18 | 60 | C- (28.1) | -0.22 |
| 2016/17 | 43 | D+ (22.4) | -0.11 |
| 2015/16 | 56 | D+ (22.2) | -0.41 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 53.3 | −2 |
| Further and other education | 4.5 | +2.4 |
| Further education | 2.2 | — |
| Other education | 2.2 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 11.1 | +2.6 |
| Employment | 20 | −1.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.7 | −3.9 |
| Activity not captured | 4.4 | +2.3 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 24 January 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Townsend Church of England School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 23 Jan 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Dec 2014
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Dec 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Jan 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (241 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 93%
- Replies
- 241
- 31% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 65 parents (27%) with SEND