School profile

The Priory School

Secondary · Foundation school · Hitchin, SG5 2UR

Good

Map showing The Priory School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,553 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#833 of 2,536

Better than 67% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Priory School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 19 Mar 2013

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFoundation school
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,221
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Matt Blayney
Local authorityHertfordshire
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 117499.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.46.5, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.66.2%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.51%, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.15.2%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths60.6%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4198--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.36.52, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels38.31, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better26.2%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.13, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study149--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,221
Girls590
Boys631
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.23.7%
First language not English7.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,298
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.5.9%
Sixth form places2024/25248
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.221
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.68
Average class size19.7

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
71.7%
Other White
4.3%
White and Black Caribbean
3.9%
Other mixed
3.3%
White and Asian
2.9%
Indian
2.4%
African
2.4%
Other ethnic group
2.2%
Other Asian
1.3%
White and Black African
1.1%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.9
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.4
Teachers (FTE)76.6
Teaching assistants (FTE)14.27
Support staff (FTE)72.86
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2576.2
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2569.4
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.127
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.523
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.94
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.94
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)19

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence9.4%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.20.2%, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire2.9%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate8.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4.6%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.95.3%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.89.1%
School sixth form48.7%
Further education37.3%
Sixth form college3.1%
Apprenticeship3.1%
Employment3.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.3.1%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.90.2%
Higher education65.7%
Employment21.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6.9%
Apprenticeship2.9%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Priory School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimaryStrathmore Infant and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.2 miPrimaryOur Lady Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryOughton Primary and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miNurseryYork Road Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimaryWilshere-Dacre Junior AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.7 miPrimaryIckleford Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school
Good
0.8 miSecondaryHitchin Boys' SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimarySamuel Lucas Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.1 miPrimarySt Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, HitchinVoluntary aided school
Good
1.2 miSecondaryHitchin Girls' SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about The Priory School

What is The Priory School's Ofsted rating?

The Priory School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 19 Mar 2013.

How does The Priory School rank in England?

The Priory School ranks 1,553 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 833 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 67% of schools).

What are The Priory School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 51% of pupils at The Priory School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 46.5 (England 46.2).

What are The Priory School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Priory School was B-, and 26.2% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Priory School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Priory School made 127 offers from 523 applications (4.1 per offer), and 94 of 94 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Priory School?

The Priory School has 1,221 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Priory School?

The Priory School had 1,298 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Priory School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Priory School has a sixth form with 248 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Priory School?

At The Priory School, the average class had 19.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.9 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Priory School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Priory School missed 9.4% of sessions (England 8%), and 20.2% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.