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Simon Balle All-Through School

All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–18 · Academy

Mangrove Road, Hertford SG13 8AJ · simonballe.herts.sch.uk · 01992 410400

On the mapSearch near SG13 8AJ

Overview

Ofsted
Remains Outstanding
Ungraded inspection · Apr 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
55.4
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Last distance offered
1.43 mi
2.30 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · In Priority Area, Distance · Hertfordshire Council
Demand for places
1.2
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,617
580 over 1,037 places · 156%
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Nursery class
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
9.8%
First language not English
7.2%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Laurel Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “In Priority Area, Distance” went to a home 1.43 mi (2.30 km) from the school. Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 146 families put the school first and 124 places were offered; 84% 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: 197 (Places 112)197September 2023: 167 (Places 114)167September 2024: 140 (Places 128)140September 2025: 152 (Places 123)152September 2026: 146 (Places 124)146Places 124
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261241461.2▲84%
September 2025Sept 20251231521.2▲81%
September 2024Sept 20241281401.1▲89%
September 2023Sept 20231141671.5▲68%
September 2022Sept 20221121971.8▲56%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20261.43 mi2.30 km
September 20251.37 mi2.21 km
September 20231.07 mi1.72 km
ReceptionDistance
September 20240.65 mi1.05 km
September 20220.49 mi0.78 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 55.4, and 63.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.

In 2024/25, 84% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 33% the higher standard. Across Hertfordshire it was 64%, and across England 62%.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (38.8 points per entry).

Key stage 2 results

Expected standard reading, writing and maths

22/2323/2424/252022/23: 85% (England 60%)85%2023/24: 75% (England 61%)75%2024/25: 84% (England 62%)84%England 62%
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
Reading, writing and maths
▲84%62%
▲33%8%
Average scaled score
▲110106
▲110105
Grammar and spelling▲110105

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 57.1 (England 46.3)57.12017/18: 52.7 (England 46.5)52.72018/19: 56.2 (England 46.7)56.22021/22: 54.5 (England 48.8)54.52022/23: 48.6 (England 46.3)48.62023/24: 52.9 (England 45.9)52.92024/25: 55.4 (England 46.0)55.4England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲55.446.0
▲63.8%45.4%
▲83.6%64.8%
▲48.6%40.5%
▲4.994.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form65.3+3.7
Further education28.4−4.4
Apprenticeship1.1+0.5
Employment1.1−0.6
Not in a lasting destination2.30
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: 34.6 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 36.2 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 37.1 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 36.4 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 39.5 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 35.8 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 40.0 (England 34.4)B2024/25: 38.8 (England 35.0)BEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
89 studentsB (38.8)Above average +0.28
89 studentsB (39)Above average +0.28
32 studentsMerit+ (28.8)Average -0.20
27.9%AAB or better
96.4%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24110B (40)+0.43
2022/23108B- (35.8)—
2021/22104B (39.5)—
2018/19110B- (36.4)+0.08
2017/18110B- (37.1)+0.15
2016/17106B- (36.2)+0.06
2015/16118C+ (34.6)+0.10

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University54.7−11.1
Other education1.6−1.1
Apprenticeship9.4+1.3
Employment21.1+2.2
Not in a lasting destination10.2+5.7
Activity not captured3.1—

Ofsted

At an ungraded inspection on 25 April 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Simon Balle All-Through School was: School remains Outstanding.

Outcome
Remains Outstanding
Inspected
24 Apr 2024
Ungraded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, May 2018

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • May 2018Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    Early yearsOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Sept 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Jan 2009Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (529 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
94%
Replies
529
34% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school▲93% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲95% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲93% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲94% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲92% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▲90% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▲92% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲95% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲94% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲89% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲87% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 75% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲61% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 33% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need●68% agreeEngland 68%

based on 153 parents (29%) with SEND

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