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The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College

Secondary · Girls · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Warwick Road, Bishop's Stortford CM23 5NJ · hertsandessex.herts.sch.uk · 01279 654127

On the mapSearch near CM23 5NJ

Overview

Ofsted
Outstanding
2019 framework · inspected Nov 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
63.6
average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
Demand for places
1.2
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,508
148 over 1,360 places · 111%
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
6%
First language not English
16.8%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Herts & Essex Multi Academy Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 213 families put the school first and 178 places were offered; 71% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 194 (Places 187)194September 2023: 202 (Places 185)202September 2024: 190 (Places 185)190September 2025: 231 (Places 186)231September 2026: 213 (Places 178)213Places 178
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261782131.2▲71%
September 2025Sept 20251862311.2▲70%
September 2024Sept 20241851901▲82%
September 2023Sept 20231852021.1▲77%
September 2022Sept 20221871941▲81%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 63.6, and 75.7% 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 (41 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: 61.3 (England 46.3)61.32017/18: 61.6 (England 46.5)61.62018/19: 59.8 (England 46.7)59.82021/22: 65.9 (England 48.8)65.92022/23: 61.7 (England 46.3)61.72023/24: 63.3 (England 45.9)63.32024/25: 63.6 (England 46.0)63.6England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲63.646.0
▲75.7%45.4%
▲93.5%64.8%
▲61.1%40.5%
▲5.834.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form75.8−2.4
Sixth form college1.6−1.8
Further education13.2+0.9
Other education0.5−1.2
Apprenticeship2.20
Employment1.6+1
Not in a lasting destination2.2+1.1
Activity not captured2.7+2.1

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: 36.9 (England 30.5)B-2016/17: 36.1 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 37.3 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 40.1 (England 32.9)B2021/22: 42.1 (England 37.9)B+2022/23: 37.8 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 38.0 (England 34.4)B-2024/25: 41.0 (England 35.0)BEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
243 studentsB (41)Above average +0.14
243 studentsB (40.7)Above average +0.10
17 studentsDist*- (45.5)Above average +0.48
22.9%AAB or better
97.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24250B- (38)-0.02
2022/23295B- (37.8)—
2021/22226B+ (42.1)—
2018/19206B (40.1)+0.24
2017/18200B- (37.3)+0.12
2016/17192B- (36.1)+0.05
2015/16169B- (36.9)+0.12

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University69.5+0.2
Further and other education2+1.2
Further education1.2—
Other education0.8—
Apprenticeship2−2.8
Employment17.2−1.4
Not in a lasting destination6.6+1.8
Activity not captured2.7+1

Ofsted

The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 14 November 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Outstanding
Inspected
14 Nov 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, Jan 2009

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Jan 2009Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
  • Mar 2006Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (324 replies, to 2 September 2024).

Recommend
91%
Replies
324
2 Sept 2024
Child is happy at school▲92% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▲92% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲95% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲91% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn●81% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▲91% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲97% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲98% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲84% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲79% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 58% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼40% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 20% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼57% agreeEngland 67%

based on 32 parents (10%) with SEND

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