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Sir John Lawes School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Manland Way, Harpenden AL5 4QP · sjl.herts.sch.uk · 01582 760043

On the mapSearch near AL5 4QP

Overview

Ofsted
Outstanding
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
62.8
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Last distance offered
0.64 mi
1.03 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · In Priority Area, Nearest School · Hertfordshire Council
Demand for places
1.4
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,373
173 over 1,200 places · 114%
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
9.7%
First language not English
13.5%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Scholars' Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “In Priority Area, Nearest School” went to a home 0.64 mi (1.03 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.91 mi (1.46 km). Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 259 families put the school first and 187 places were offered; 69% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 234 (Places 197)234September 2023: 217 (Places 204)217September 2024: 238 (Places 199)238September 2025: 256 (Places 183)256September 2026: 259 (Places 187)259Places 187
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261872591.4▲69%
September 2025Sept 20251832561.4▲68%
September 2024Sept 20241992381.2▲74%
September 2023Sept 20232042171.1▲83%
September 2022Sept 20221972341.2▲79%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20260.64 mi1.03 km
September 20250.91 mi1.46 km
September 20241.57 mi2.53 km
September 20230.64 mi1.04 km
September 20220.70 mi1.13 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 62.8, and 75.5% 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+ (42.4 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 54.8 (England 46.3)54.82017/18: 58.8 (England 46.5)58.82018/19: 61.0 (England 46.7)61.02021/22: 63.3 (England 48.8)63.32022/23: 61.0 (England 46.3)61.02023/24: 62.3 (England 45.9)62.32024/25: 62.8 (England 46.0)62.8England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲62.846.0
▲75.5%45.4%
▲87.0%64.8%
▲52.1%40.5%
▲5.744.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form81.4+6
Further education12.1−6.4
Other education1.5+0.5
Apprenticeship1+0.5
Employment0.5−1
Not in a lasting destination1.5−0.6
Activity not captured2+1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 38.1 (England 30.5)B-2016/17: 37.6 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 38.3 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 39.1 (England 32.9)B2021/22: 43.2 (England 37.9)B+2022/23: 38.7 (England 34.2)B2023/24: 40.8 (England 34.4)B2024/25: 42.4 (England 35.0)B+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
156 studentsB+ (42.4)Above average +0.18
156 studentsB+ (42.6)Above average +0.19
99 studentsDist (34.6)Average +0.10
27.5%AAB or better
98.7%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24163B (40.8)+0.14
2022/23165B (38.7)—
2021/22155B+ (43.2)—
2018/19120B (39.1)+0.29
2017/18123B- (38.3)+0.25
2016/17134B- (37.6)+0.03
2015/16124B- (38.1)+0.25

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University68.8−4.7
Further education1.1+0.5
Apprenticeship3.5−0.6
Employment13.9+5.1
Not in a lasting destination7.5−0.7
Activity not captured5.2+0.5

Ofsted

Sir John Lawes School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 28 March 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Outstanding
Inspected
28 Mar 2023
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Feb 2008

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Feb 2008Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

97% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (460 replies, to 1 January 2024).

Recommend
97%
Replies
460
34% · 1 Jan 2024
Child is happy at school▲96% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲97% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲98% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲95% agreeEngland 83%
Child does well▲96% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn●83% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▲95% agreeEngland 84%
Good range of subjects▲99% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲99% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲93% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲91% agreeEngland 76%

based on the 67% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲58% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 24% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲85% agreeEngland 67%

based on 92 parents (20%) with SEND

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