School profile

Hertswood Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Borehamwood, WD6 5LG

Good

Map showing Hertswood Academy

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#3,097 of 3,312

Worse than 93% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#1,222 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Hertswood Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 11 Feb 2025

Area360 rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,144
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherWanda Gill
TrustHERTSWOOD ACADEMY
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Sept 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138747.

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.35.4, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.51.4%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.28.7%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.2.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths40.3%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4181--

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 10.34.04, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels37.4, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better9.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.19, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study98--
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 pupils1,144
Girls521
Boys623
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.30.7%
First language not English32.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,861
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.38.5%
Sixth form places2024/25262
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.120
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.40
Average class size22.3

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
49.1%
Other White
20.8%
African
10.7%
Other Asian
3.3%
Other ethnic group
2.9%
Other mixed
2.7%
White and Black Caribbean
2.5%
White and Black African
1.9%
Indian
1.3%
White and Asian
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 teacher16.1
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.7
Teachers (FTE)71.08
Teaching assistants (FTE)7
Support staff (FTE)27.76
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2584.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2568.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/2511.9

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.209
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.212
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.165
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.165
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)3

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 absence12.6%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.38.3%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5.6%, 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 rate24.1%
Pupils with one or more suspensions12%
Permanent exclusion rate0.2%
Permanent exclusions2

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.91.5%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.84.6%
School sixth form53.2%
Further education30.8%
Apprenticeship4.5%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.4.5%
Employment2.5%
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.76.8%
Higher education50%
Employment22%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.13.4%
Further education2.4%
Apprenticeship2.4%

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 Hertswood Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimaryWoodlands Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.3 miPrimaryCowley Hill SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miSecondaryElstree Screen Arts AcademyUniversity technical college
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimarySt Teresa Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryParkside Community Primary SchoolFoundation school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryMonksmead SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryYavneh Primary SchoolFree schools
Outstanding
0.9 miSecondaryYavneh CollegeAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryMeryfield Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryKenilworth Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about Hertswood Academy

What is Hertswood Academy's Ofsted rating?

Hertswood Academy is rated Good, last inspected on 11 Feb 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does Hertswood Academy rank in England?

Hertswood Academy ranks 3,097 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 93% of schools) and 1,222 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are Hertswood Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 28.7% of pupils at Hertswood Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 35.4 (England 46.2).

What are Hertswood Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Hertswood Academy was C+, and 9.8% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Hertswood Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Hertswood Academy made 209 offers from 212 applications (1 per offer), and 165 of 165 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Hertswood Academy?

Hertswood Academy has 1,144 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Hertswood Academy?

Hertswood Academy had 1,861 school places in 2024/25.

Does Hertswood Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, Hertswood Academy has a sixth form with 262 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Hertswood Academy?

At Hertswood Academy, the average class had 22.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.1 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Hertswood Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Hertswood Academy missed 12.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 38.3% 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.