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Hertswood Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Cowley Hill, Borehamwood WD6 5LG · hertswoodacademy.org · 020 8238 7200

On the mapSearch near WD6 5LG

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Feb 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
38.3
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Last distance offered
No limit
Year 7, September 2026 entry · Hertfordshire Council
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,144
61% of 1,861 places
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
33.3%
First language not English
32.8%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Hertswood Academy

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, 165 families put the school first and 209 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 148 (Places 235)148September 2023: 143 (Places 235)143September 2024: 134 (Places 192)134September 2025: 120 (Places 206)120September 2026: 165 (Places 209)165Places 209
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262091650.8100%
September 2025Sept 20252061200.6100%
September 2024Sept 20241921340.7100%
September 2023Sept 20232351430.6100%
September 2022Sept 20222351480.6100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 38.3, and 27.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (34 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: 44.1 (England 46.3)44.12017/18: 43.5 (England 46.5)43.52018/19: 38.7 (England 46.7)38.72021/22: 41.3 (England 48.8)41.32022/23: 39.5 (England 46.3)39.52023/24: 38.9 (England 45.9)38.92024/25: 38.3 (England 46.0)38.3England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼38.346.0
▼27.4%45.4%
▼49.8%64.8%
▲52.0%40.5%
▼3.474.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form53.2+13.3
Further education30.8−13
Other education0.50
Apprenticeship4.5−0.3
Employment2.5−0.9
Not in a lasting destination4.5+0.7
Activity not captured4+0.2

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: 29.0 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 28.6 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 28.4 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.9 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 34.3 (England 37.9)C+2022/23: 34.1 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 31.9 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 34.0 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
68 studentsC+ (34)Above average +0.19
68 studentsC+ (34)Above average +0.19
43 studentsMerit (25.1)Average +0.06
9.8%AAB or better
100%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2453C+ (31.9)+0.26
2022/2363C+ (34.1)—
2021/2259C+ (34.3)—
2018/1975C+ (31.9)+0.06
2017/1880C (28.4)-0.44
2016/1788C (28.6)-0.25
2015/1691C (29)+0.18

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University50−3.1
Further education2.4—
Apprenticeship2.4−0.1
Employment22−3.9
Not in a lasting destination13.4+1.1
Activity not captured9.8+3.6

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Hertswood Academy on 11 February 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
11 Feb 2025
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jun 2022Requires improvement
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Feb 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Mar 2020Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Sept 2019Requires improvement
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    Sixth formRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Sept 2017Inadequate
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareInadequate
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
    SafeguardingNot effective
  • May 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

54% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (71 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
54%
Replies
71
6% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▼65% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼60% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼41% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼65% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼65% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼57% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼67% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼75% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼85% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼56% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼48% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 89% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼45% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 58% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼26% agreeEngland 67%

based on 19 parents (27%) with SEND

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