Schools by area › Hertfordshire › Watford Grammar School for Boys
Watford Grammar School for Boys
Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JF · watfordboys.org · 01923 208900
On the mapSearch near WD18 7JF
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Apr 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 68.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,590
- 94 over 1,496 places · 106%
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 6.5%
- First language not English
- 22.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 396 families put the school first and 211 places were offered; 44% 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 | 211 | 396 | 1.9▲ | 44% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 215 | 387 | 1.8▲ | 47% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 214 | 363 | 1.7▲ | 48% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 221 | 355 | 1.6▲ | 51% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 208 | 361 | 1.7▲ | 44% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 68.9, and 83.3% 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 B (39.6 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲68.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲83.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲90.5% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲95.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲6.80 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 80.2 | −3.9 |
| Further education | 14 | +0.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.5 | — |
| Employment | 1.4 | +0.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 0.9 | +0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.2 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 245 students | B (39.6) | Average -0.05 | |
| 245 students | B (39.4) | Average -0.06 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 186 | B+ (42) | +0.11 |
| 2022/23 | 218 | B (40.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 198 | B+ (43.2) | — |
| 2018/19 | 178 | B (40.5) | +0.08 |
| 2017/18 | 212 | B (40.8) | -0.06 |
| 2016/17 | 198 | B (38.7) | -0.06 |
| 2015/16 | 186 | B (41.4) | +0.14 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 78.3 | +3 |
| Further and other education | 2.1 | −1.4 |
| Further education | 0.5 | −1.5 |
| Other education | 1.6 | +0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.7 | +0.7 |
| Employment | 5.8 | −1.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.2 | +0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 5.8 | −1.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Watford Grammar School for Boys on 14 April 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Exceptional
- Curriculum and teaching: Exceptional
- Achievement: Exceptional
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Exceptional
- Post-16 provision: Exceptional
- Leadership and governance: Exceptional
- Inspected
- 14 Apr 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Exceptional |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Exceptional |
| Achievement | Exceptional |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Exceptional |
| Post-16 provision | Exceptional |
| Leadership and governance | Exceptional |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2021Outstanding
Quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Sixth form Outstanding Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Sept 2006Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (145 replies, to 5 September 2022).
- Recommend
- 93%
- Replies
- 145
- 10% · 5 Sept 2022
based on the 64% who raised concerns
based on the 26% who had a child bullied
based on 20 parents (14%) with SEND