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Saint Michael's Catholic High School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford WD25 0SS · stmichaelscatholichighschool.co.uk · 01923 673760

On the mapSearch near WD25 0SS

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Feb 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
50.9
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Demand for places
1.1
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,130
27 over 1,103 places · 102%
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
14.2%
First language not English
8.1%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 188 families put the school first and 174 places were offered; 81% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 195 (Places 174)195September 2023: 165 (Places 172)165September 2024: 175 (Places 173)175September 2025: 171 (Places 175)171September 2026: 188 (Places 174)188Places 174
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261741881.1▲81%
September 2025Sept 2025175171184%
September 2024Sept 20241731751▲85%
September 2023Sept 2023172165190%
September 2022Sept 20221741951.1▲81%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.9, and 50% 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- (35.1 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: 52.1 (England 46.3)52.12017/18: 50.0 (England 46.5)50.02018/19: 49.4 (England 46.7)49.42021/22: 56.6 (England 48.8)56.62022/23: 54.4 (England 46.3)54.42023/24: 51.2 (England 45.9)51.22024/25: 50.9 (England 46.0)50.9England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲50.946.0
▲50.0%45.4%
▲73.0%64.8%
▲48.9%40.5%
▲4.604.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form54.6−3.5
Sixth form college2.3+1.2
Further education35.6+5.4
Other education1.10
Apprenticeship1.7−0.5
Not in a lasting destination2.9+1.2
Activity not captured1.7+0.6

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: 30.6 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 30.1 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 32.0 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 31.7 (England 32.9)C2021/22: 36.8 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 33.8 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 35.0 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 35.1 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
84 studentsB- (35.1)Below average -0.29
84 studentsB- (35.3)Below average -0.28
38 studentsMerit+ (28.2)Average -0.03
9.4%AAB or better
100%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2489C+ (35)-0.20
2022/23101C+ (33.8)—
2021/2286B- (36.8)—
2018/1961C (31.7)-0.25
2017/18104C+ (32)-0.23
2016/17109C (30.1)-0.31
2015/1697C (30.6)+0.07

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University60.4+2.3
Further and other education1.9+0.9
Further education0.9—
Other education0.9—
Apprenticeship4.7−1.8
Employment23.6−2.2
Not in a lasting destination6.6+2.3
Activity not captured2.8−1.5

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Saint Michael's Catholic High School on 4 February 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
4 Feb 2025
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

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

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Nov 2014

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2014Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
  • Oct 2007Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (140 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
86%
Replies
140
12% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school●89% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe●90% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲91% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲88% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼83% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼79% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▲91% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●91% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼87% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼76% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼75% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 72% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲53% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 32% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼41% agreeEngland 67%

based on 27 parents (19%) with SEND

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