School profile

The Astley Cooper School

Secondary · Foundation school · Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL

Requires improvement

Map showing The Astley Cooper School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,177 of 3,312

Worse than 95% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#2,306 of 2,536

Worse than 90% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Astley Cooper School Ofsted rating

Ofsted report cardInspected 28 Apr 2026

Area360 rating
Requires improvement
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour
Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing
Needs attention
Leadership and governance
Needs attention
Post-16 provision
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeFoundation school
Ages11 to 18
Pupils914
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Ian Tilbury
Local authorityHertfordshire
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 117552.

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.33.5, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.43.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.20.7%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.3.6%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths33.1%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4169--

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 10.24.66, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeD+--
Average grade, best three A-levelsc--
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.23, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study61--
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 pupils914
Girls445
Boys469
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.33.2%
First language not English17.6%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,017
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.10.1%
Sixth form places2024/25117
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.257
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.43
Average class size19.5

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
60.8%
Other White
12%
African
7.4%
Other Asian
2.8%
White and Black African
2.4%
White and Asian
2.4%
White and Black Caribbean
2.3%
Other ethnic group
2.3%
Other mixed
2.1%
Pakistani
1.6%

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 teacher13.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.9.3
Teachers (FTE)69.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)9.24
Support staff (FTE)46.72
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2565.1
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2555.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/255.2
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254.2

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.175
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.285
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.161
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.154
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)2

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 absence9.7%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.28.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.7%, similar to 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 rate40.1%
Pupils with one or more suspensions16.7%
Permanent exclusion rate0.8%
Permanent exclusions8

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.94.6%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.91.1%
Further education54.2%
School sixth form36.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.4.8%
Employment2.4%
Apprenticeship1.2%
Sixth form college0%

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.80.9%
Higher education53.2%
Employment21.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.12.8%
Apprenticeship4.3%
Further education2.1%

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 Astley Cooper School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryMaple Grove Primary SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.3 miPrimaryHoltsmere End Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.3 miPrimaryHoltsmere End Infant and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryAycliffe Drive Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miPrimaryBrockswood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimaryHammond AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryJupiter Primary SchoolFree schools
Good
0.9 miPrimaryYewtree Primary SchoolCommunity school
Inadequate
1.2 miPrimaryHobletts Manor Infants' SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.2 miPrimaryHobletts Manor Junior SchoolCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Astley Cooper School

What is The Astley Cooper School's Ofsted rating?

The Astley Cooper School is rated Requires improvement, last inspected on 28 Apr 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does The Astley Cooper School rank in England?

The Astley Cooper School ranks 3,177 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 95% of schools) and 2,306 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 90% of schools).

What are The Astley Cooper School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 20.7% of pupils at The Astley Cooper School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 33.5 (England 46.2).

What are The Astley Cooper School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Astley Cooper School was D+.

How hard is it to get into The Astley Cooper School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Astley Cooper School made 175 offers from 285 applications (1.6 per offer), and 154 of 161 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Astley Cooper School?

The Astley Cooper School has 914 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Astley Cooper School?

The Astley Cooper School had 1,017 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Astley Cooper School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Astley Cooper School has a sixth form with 117 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Astley Cooper School?

At The Astley Cooper School, the average class had 19.5 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 13.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Astley Cooper School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Astley Cooper School missed 9.7% of sessions (England 8%), and 28.8% 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.