School profile

Sir John Lawes School

Secondary · Academy converter · Harpenden, AL5 4QP

Outstanding

Map showing Sir John Lawes School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#172 of 3,312

Better than 94% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#275 of 2,536

Better than 89% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Sir John Lawes School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 28 Mar 2023

Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,373
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Philip Newbery
TrustSCHOLARS' EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Aug 2011
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137270.

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.63.9, better than England, better than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.90.6%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.71.9%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.36.5%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths90.1%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4192--

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 10.42.42, better than England, better than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeB+--
Average points, best three A-levels43.58, better than England, better than Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB+--
AAB or better27.5%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.18, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study168--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist--

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 pupils1,373
Girls639
Boys734
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.8.4%
First language not English13.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,330
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25350
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.180
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.27
Average class size21.4

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
61.2%
Chinese
7.9%
Other White
5.6%
Other mixed
5%
Indian
3.4%
Other Asian
3.1%
Other ethnic group
2.9%
White and Asian
2.5%
African
2.5%
White and Black Caribbean
1.2%

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 teacher18.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.13.8
Teachers (FTE)75.43
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.26
Support staff (FTE)36.58
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2576.8
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2573
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/251.8

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.187
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.751
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.259
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.179
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)68

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 absence4.1%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.8.1%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.3%, better than England, better 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 rate1.3%
Pupils with one or more suspensions1.2%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

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.96.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.95%
School sixth form81.4%
Further education12.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.1.5%
Apprenticeship1%
Employment0.5%
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.87.3%
Higher education68.8%
Employment13.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.7.5%
Apprenticeship3.5%
Further education1.2%

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 Sir John Lawes School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryManland Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.3 miSecondarySt George's SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.5 miNurseryBatford Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimarySauncey Wood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryCrabtree Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimaryCrabtree Infants' SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimaryThe Lea Primary School and NurseryCommunity school
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimaryHarpenden AcademyFree schools
Good
0.6 miSecondaryKatherine Warington SchoolFree schools
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Nicholas CofE VA Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good

Frequently asked questions about Sir John Lawes School

What is Sir John Lawes School's Ofsted rating?

Sir John Lawes School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 28 Mar 2023.

How does Sir John Lawes School rank in England?

Sir John Lawes School ranks 172 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 94% of schools) and 275 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 89% of schools).

What are Sir John Lawes School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 71.9% of pupils at Sir John Lawes School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 63.9 (England 46.2).

What are Sir John Lawes School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Sir John Lawes School was B+, and 27.5% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Sir John Lawes School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Sir John Lawes School made 187 offers from 751 applications (4 per offer), and 179 of 259 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Sir John Lawes School?

Sir John Lawes School has 1,373 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Sir John Lawes School?

Sir John Lawes School had 1,330 school places in 2024/25.

Does Sir John Lawes School have a sixth form?

Yes, Sir John Lawes School has a sixth form with 350 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Sir John Lawes School?

At Sir John Lawes School, the average class had 21.4 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 18.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Sir John Lawes School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Sir John Lawes School missed 4.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 8.1% 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.