Best Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

We checked all 109 secondary schools in Hertfordshire and list every one: 78 ranked, then 31 without a rank.

Schools checked: 109
Ranked: 78
Without a rank: 31

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score across Hertfordshire, and each school's town is shown. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Hertfordshire also has 418 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire also has rankings for Berkhamsted, Bishop's Stortford, Borehamwood, Bushey, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Rickmansworth, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Watford and Welwyn Garden City.

Ranked secondary schools in Hertfordshire

Rank 1
Dame Alice Owen's School
Potters Bar, Academy, 1,467 pupils, inspected December 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
72.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
87.5%
Rank 2
Watford Grammar School for Girls
Watford, Academy, 1,427 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
68.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
83.2%
Rank 3
Parmiter's School
Watford, Academy, 1,496 pupils, inspected July 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
66.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
80.8%
Rank 3
Sandringham School
St Albans, Academy, 1,777 pupils, inspected February 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
65.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
83.5%
Rank 3
St Clement Danes School
Rickmansworth, Academy, 1,585 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
65.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
83.9%
Rank 6
St George's School
Harpenden, Academy, 1,351 pupils, inspected March 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
63.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
76.6%
Rank 7
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College
Bishop's Stortford, Academy, 1,508 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
63.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
75.7%
Rank 8
Rickmansworth School
Rickmansworth, Academy, 1,575 pupils, inspected September 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
61.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
80.5%
Rank 8
Watford Grammar School for Boys
Watford, Academy, 1,590 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Strong standard to exceptional
Attainment 8
68.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
83.3%
Rank 10
Sir John Lawes School
Harpenden, Academy, 1,373 pupils, inspected March 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
62.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
75.5%
Rank 11
Beaumont School
St Albans, Academy, 1,722 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
62.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
73.6%
Rank 12
The Bishop's Stortford High School
Bishop's Stortford, Local authority maintained, 1,279 pupils, inspected March 2017
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
60.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
69.2%
Rank 13
Presdales School
Ware, Academy, 1,167 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
58.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
69.5%
Rank 13
St Albans Girls' School
St Albans, Academy, 1,423 pupils, inspected November 2024
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
58.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
69.7%
Rank 15
Roundwood Park School
Harpenden, Academy, 1,421 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
59.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
67%
Rank 16
Hitchin Girls' School
Hitchin, Academy, 1,357 pupils, inspected October 2024
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
57.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
68.8%
Rank 17
Queens' School
Bushey, Academy, 1,697 pupils, inspected March 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
57.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
67.8%
Rank 18
Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
St Albans, Academy, 1,134 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
56.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
64.6%
Rank 18
The Broxbourne School
Broxbourne, Academy, 1,442 pupils, inspected June 2024
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
55.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
66.8%
Rank 20
Simon Balle All-Through School
Hertford, Academy, 1,617 pupils, inspected May 2018
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
55.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
63.8%
Rank 21
Loreto College
St Albans, Academy, 952 pupils, inspected October 2024
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
58.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
59%
Rank 22
Hitchin Boys' School
Hitchin, Academy, 1,364 pupils, inspected November 2025
Report card: Strong standard to exceptional
Attainment 8
57.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
66.7%
Rank 23
St Mary's Catholic School
Bishop's Stortford, Academy, 1,106 pupils, inspected October 2024
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
57.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
65.9%
Rank 24
Samuel Ryder Academy
St Albans, Academy, 1,577 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
56.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
69.7%
Rank 25
Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School
Hatfield, Academy, 942 pupils, inspected February 2016
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
51.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
55%
Rank 26
Yavneh College
Borehamwood, Academy, 1,085 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
61.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
75%
Rank 27
Hockerill Anglo-European College
Bishop's Stortford, Academy, 903 pupils, inspected June 2022
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
61.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
72.5%
Rank 28
Ashlyns School
Berkhamsted, Local authority maintained, 1,561 pupils, inspected September 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
57.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
70.7%
Rank 29
The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School
Stevenage, Academy, 1,620 pupils, inspected January 2015
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
57.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
64.4%
Rank 30
Richard Hale School
Hertford, Academy, 1,207 pupils, inspected July 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
56.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
65.7%
Rank 31
Saint Michael's Catholic High School
Watford, Academy, 1,130 pupils, inspected February 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
50.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
50%
Rank 32
The Chauncy School
Ware, Academy, 1,515 pupils, inspected October 2017
Ofsted: Outstanding
Attainment 8
49.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
46%
Rank 33
Katherine Warington School
Harpenden, Free school, 1,113 pupils, inspected February 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
54.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
59.5%
Rank 34
Verulam School
St Albans, Academy, 987 pupils, inspected October 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
52.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
55.3%
Rank 35
Croxley Danes School
Rickmansworth, Free school, 1,049 pupils, inspected February 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
51.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
50%
Rank 36
Freman College
Buntingford, Academy, 1,049 pupils, inspected November 2015
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
53.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
52.5%
Rank 37
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
Rickmansworth, Academy, 1,198 pupils, inspected December 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
50.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
56.1%
Rank 38
Barclay Academy
Stevenage, Academy, 1,044 pupils, inspected April 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
57.3%
Rank 39
Tring School
Tring, Academy, 1,599 pupils, inspected November 2017
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
50.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
53.6%
Rank 40
Monk's Walk School
Welwyn Garden City, Academy, 1,440 pupils, inspected June 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
50.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
51.6%
Rank 41
The Hemel Hempstead School
Hemel Hempstead, Academy, 1,287 pupils, inspected March 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
49.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
51.2%
Rank 42
John F Kennedy Catholic School
Hemel Hempstead, Academy, 1,073 pupils, inspected May 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
47.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
54.5%
Rank 43
Kings Langley School
Kings Langley, Academy, 1,122 pupils, inspected December 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
53.1%
Rank 44
Stanborough School
Welwyn Garden City, Academy, 1,287 pupils, inspected January 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
47.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
52.9%
Rank 45
The Thomas Alleyne Academy
Stevenage, Academy, 970 pupils, inspected June 2015
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
52.6%
Rank 46
Goffs Academy
Waltham Cross, Academy, 1,574 pupils, inspected October 2012
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
48.5%
Rank 46
The Nobel School
Stevenage, Local authority maintained, 1,475 pupils, inspected February 2018
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
50.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
46.6%
Rank 48
Leventhorpe
Sawbridgeworth, Academy, 1,463 pupils, inspected April 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
49.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
47%
Rank 48
The Priory School
Hitchin, Local authority maintained, 1,221 pupils, inspected March 2013
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
49.2%
Rank 50
Chancellor's School
Hatfield, Academy, 1,241 pupils, inspected September 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
47.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
47.3%
Rank 50
The Knights Templar School
Baldock, Academy, 1,375 pupils, inspected October 2012
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
48.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
45.8%
Rank 52
Birchwood High School
Bishop's Stortford, Academy, 1,417 pupils, inspected January 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
46.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
41.6%
Rank 53
Townsend Church of England School
St Albans, Local authority maintained, 746 pupils, inspected December 2014
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
46.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
40.1%
Rank 54
St Mary's Church of England High School (VA)
Waltham Cross, Academy, 911 pupils, inspected October 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
45.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
40.5%
Rank 55
Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Borehamwood, Free school, 524 pupils, inspected January 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Attainment 8
39.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
31.7%
Rank 56
Robert Barclay Academy
Hoddesdon, Academy, 821 pupils, inspected March 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
44.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
39.3%
Rank 57
Haileybury Turnford
Waltham Cross, Academy, 1,021 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Expected standard to strong standard
Attainment 8
43.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
36.9%
Rank 58
The Highfield School
Letchworth Garden City, Academy, 937 pupils, inspected May 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
41.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
40.4%
Rank 59
Marriotts School
Stevenage, Local authority maintained, 1,415 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Expected standard
Attainment 8
42.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
39%
Rank 59
The Reach Free School
Rickmansworth, Free school, 734 pupils, inspected February 2019
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
44.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
35.3%
Rank 61
The Marlborough Science Academy
St Albans, Academy, 1,337 pupils, inspected November 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
43.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
36.4%
Rank 62
Laureate Academy
Hemel Hempstead, Academy, 703 pupils, inspected June 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
41.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
39.1%
Rank 63
Future Academies Watford
Watford, Academy, 1,060 pupils, inspected April 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
Attainment 8
39.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
32.1%
Rank 64
Westfield Academy
Watford, Academy, 1,331 pupils, inspected November 2024
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
41.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
38.5%
Rank 65
Longdean School
Hemel Hempstead, Academy, 1,436 pupils, inspected December 2015
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
42.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
35.3%
Rank 66
Goffs - Churchgate Academy
Waltham Cross, Academy, 582 pupils, inspected June 2026
Report card: Expected standard
Attainment 8
42.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
32.5%
Rank 67
Barnwell School
Stevenage, Local authority maintained, 1,270 pupils, inspected January 2026
Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
Attainment 8
41.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
37.4%
Rank 68
King James Academy Royston
Royston, Academy, 947 pupils, inspected April 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
40.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
34.4%
Rank 69
The Grange Academy
Bushey, Academy, 928 pupils, inspected November 2024
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
41.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
32.2%
Rank 70
Bushey Meads School
Bushey, Academy, 1,200 pupils, inspected January 2025
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good
Attainment 8
43.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
41%
Rank 71
Hertswood Academy
Borehamwood, Academy, 1,144 pupils, inspected February 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
38.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
27.4%
Rank 72
Fearnhill School
Letchworth, Local authority maintained, 597 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
Attainment 8
38.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
26.7%
Rank 73
Onslow St Audrey's School
Hatfield, Academy, 787 pupils, inspected December 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
36.6
Grade 5+ English and maths
24.1%
Rank 74
Ridgeway Academy
Welwyn Garden City, Academy, 875 pupils, inspected June 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
35.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
24.8%
Rank 75
The Adeyfield Academy
Hemel Hempstead, Academy, 858 pupils, inspected January 2023
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
35.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
22.3%
Rank 76
The Sele School
Hertford, Academy, 382 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Good
Attainment 8
35.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
20.5%
Rank 77
The Astley Cooper School
Hemel Hempstead, Local authority maintained, 914 pupils, inspected April 2026
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
Attainment 8
34.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
26.7%
Rank 78
The John Warner School
Hoddesdon, Academy, 726 pupils, inspected October 2022
Ofsted: Inadequate
Attainment 8
40.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
32.5%

Secondary schools in Hertfordshire without a rank

Abbot's Hill School
Hemel Hempstead, Independent, 380 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
68.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
81%
Aldenham School
Elstree, Independent, 849 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
41.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Avanti Grange Secondary School
Bishop's Stortford, Free school, 660 pupils, inspected May 2025
Ofsted judgements: Outstanding
Berkhamsted School
Berkhamsted, Independent, 1,439 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
12.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Bishop's Stortford College
Bishop's Stortford, Independent, 1,241 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
23.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Egerton-Rothesay School
Berkhamsted, Independent, 157 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
19.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
21.7%
Elderwood House School
Leavesden, Independent
No Ofsted inspection
Gracewood Academy
Potters Bar, Academy, 420 pupils, inspected November 2022
Ofsted: Requires improvement
Haberdashers' Boys' School
Elstree, Independent, 1,429 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
41.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Haberdashers' Girls' School
Borehamwood, Independent, Selective, 1,118 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
39.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Haileybury College
Hertford, Independent, 924 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
14.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Immanuel College
Bushey, Independent, 341 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
18.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Kingshott School
Hitchin, Independent, Selective, 403 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Lockers Park School
Hemel Hempstead, Independent, 152 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Merchant Taylors' School
Northwood, Independent, Selective, 1,051 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
21.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Queenswood School
Hatfield, Independent, Selective, 426 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
47.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Royal Masonic School for Girls
Rickmansworth, Independent, 880 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
66.2
Grade 5+ English and maths
75.4%
Sherrardswood School
Welwyn, Independent, 445 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
52.0
Grade 5+ English and maths
49.1%
St Albans High School for Girls
St Albans, Independent, Selective, 1,106 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
48.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
St Albans Independent College
St Albans, Independent, 70 pupils, inspected March 2024
Ofsted: Good
Attainment 8
19.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
St Albans School
St Albans, Independent, 883 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
10.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
St Christopher School
Letchworth Garden City, Independent, 492 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
58.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
64.9%
St Columba's College
St Albans, Independent, 822 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
32.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
St Edmund's College
Ware, Independent, Selective, 684 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
35.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
1%
St Francis College
Letchworth Garden City, Independent, Selective, 264 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
56.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
68.3%
St Margaret's School
Bushey, Independent, 799 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
56.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
73.3%
Stanborough Secondary School
Watford, Independent, 50 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
44.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
38.1%
The King's School
Harpenden, Independent, 169 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
59.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
78.3%
The Purcell School
Bushey, Independent, 192 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
47.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
54.3%
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
Tring, Independent, 336 pupils
No Ofsted inspection
Attainment 8
32.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
Westbrook Hay
Hemel Hempstead, Independent, 360 pupils
No Ofsted inspection