Schools by area › Hertfordshire › King James Academy Royston
King James Academy Royston
All-through · Mixed · Ages 9–18 · Academy
Garden Walk, Royston SG8 7JH · kjar.org.uk · 01763 242236
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 40.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Hertfordshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 947
- 72% of 1,321 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18.6%
- First language not English
- 7.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 3 families put the school first and 6 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 | 6 | 3 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 40.3, and 34.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 2% the higher standard. Across Hertfordshire it was 64%, and across England 62%.
In 2018/19 the average A level result was grade D+ (24.4 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼51% | 62% | ||
| ▼2% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ▼102 | 105 | ||
| Grammar and spelling | ●103 | 105 | |
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼40.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼34.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼52.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼24.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.52 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2.2 | −0.9 |
| Sixth form college | 43.8 | +3.2 |
| Further education | 33.7 | −6.9 |
| Other education | 1.1 | −0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.5 | +2.9 |
| Employment | 2.2 | −5.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.9 | +6.3 |
| Activity not captured | 4.5 | +1.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2018/19 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 students | D+ (24.4) | Below average -0.36 | |
| 29 students | D+ (24.6) | Below average -0.35 | |
| Applied general12 students | Pass (13.5) | Well below average -1.46 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 36 | C (30.7) | -0.05 |
| 2016/17 | 43 | C- (28) | +0.09 |
| 2015/16 | 48 | C (29) | +0.05 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 50 | −30 |
| Apprenticeship | 10 | — |
| Employment | 20 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 20 | — |
Ofsted
King James Academy Royston was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 23 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 23 Apr 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Oct 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
53% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (270 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 53%
- Replies
- 270
- 28% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 86% who raised concerns
based on the 43% who had a child bullied
based on 78 parents (29%) with SEND