School profile

Simon Balle All-Through School

All-through · Academy converter · Hertford, SG13 8AJ

Outstanding

Map showing Simon Balle All-Through School

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

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#991 of 15,057

Better than 93% of schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

GCSE 2025/26

#653 of 3,312

Better than 80% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#533 of 2,536

Better than 78% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Simon Balle All-Through School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 9 May 2018

Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Early years
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseAll-through
TypeAcademy converter
Ages4 to 18
Pupils1,617
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherRachel Kirk and Mike Moss
TrustTHE LAUREL EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Nov 2013
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 140294.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths84%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire64%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.33%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire11%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.110, better than England, better than Hertfordshire107106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.110, better than England, better than Hertfordshire105105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.110, better than England, better than Hertfordshire106105
Expected standard in reading91%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire79%76%
Expected standard in writing88%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire73%73%
Expected standard in maths95%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire76%75%
Pupils taking tests64--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

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.52.9, better than England, better than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.76.3%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.57.4%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.13%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths71%, better than England, better 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 10.38.82, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeB--
Average points, best three A-levels39.8, better than England, better than Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB--
AAB or better27.9%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.28, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study105--
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 pupils1,617
Girls809
Boys808
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.9.4%
First language not English7.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,631
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0.9%
Sixth form places2024/25311
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.196
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.72
Average class size23.3

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
79.4%
Other White
7.1%
Other mixed
3.5%
White and Asian
2.4%
African
1.5%
White and Black Caribbean
1.4%
Indian
0.9%
Other Asian
0.9%
Chinese
0.8%
White and Black African
0.4%

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 teacher16.8
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.2
Teachers (FTE)96.4
Teaching assistants (FTE)32.27
Support staff (FTE)70.44
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2595.5
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2591.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/252

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 (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.60
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.247
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.83
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.60
Applications from another local authority (Reception)2
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.124
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.669
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.146
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.123
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)9

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 absence5%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.10.2%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.1.4%, 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 suspensions1.1%
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%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.93.8%
School sixth form65.3%
Further education28.4%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.3%
Apprenticeship1.1%
Employment1.1%
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.86.7%
Higher education54.7%
Employment21.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.2%
Apprenticeship9.4%
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 Simon Balle All-Through School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimaryAbel Smith SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.4 miSecondaryRichard Hale SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryMorgans Primary School & NurseryCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryWheatcroft Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryMill Mead Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miNot applicableDuncombe SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
1.2 miPrimaryBengeo Primary SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.2 miNot applicableHertford PrepOther independent school
Unrated
1.2 miPrimaryHertford Heath Primary and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.2 miPrimarySt Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford)Academy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about Simon Balle All-Through School

What is Simon Balle All-Through School's Ofsted rating?

Simon Balle All-Through School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 9 May 2018.

How does Simon Balle All-Through School rank in England?

Simon Balle All-Through School ranks 991 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (better than 93% of schools), 653 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 80% of schools) and 533 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 78% of schools).

What are Simon Balle All-Through School's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 84% of pupils at Simon Balle All-Through School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

What are Simon Balle All-Through School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 57.4% of pupils at Simon Balle All-Through School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 52.9 (England 46.2).

What are Simon Balle All-Through School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Simon Balle All-Through School was B, and 27.9% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Simon Balle All-Through School?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, Simon Balle All-Through School made 60 offers from 247 applications (4.1 per offer), and 60 of 83 first-preference applicants got a place. For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, it made 124 offers from 669 applications (5.4 per offer), and 123 of 146 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Simon Balle All-Through School?

Simon Balle All-Through School has 1,617 pupils aged 4 to 18.

What is the capacity of Simon Balle All-Through School?

Simon Balle All-Through School had 1,631 school places in 2024/25.

Does Simon Balle All-Through School have a sixth form?

Yes, Simon Balle All-Through School has a sixth form with 311 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Simon Balle All-Through School?

At Simon Balle All-Through School, the average class had 23.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.8 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Simon Balle All-Through School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Simon Balle All-Through School missed 5% of sessions (England 8%), and 10.2% 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.