School profile

John F Kennedy Catholic School

Secondary · Academy converter · Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2PH

Good

Map showing John F Kennedy Catholic School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#747 of 3,312

Better than 77% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#1,510 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

John F Kennedy Catholic School Ofsted rating

Ofsted report cardInspected 12 May 2026

Area360 rating
Good
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Expected standard
Achievement
Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Strong standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Post-16 provision
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,073
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Paul Neves
TrustALL SAINTS CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Jun 2023
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 149743.

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.51.9, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.82%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.62.9%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.14%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths75.8%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4178--

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 10.32.12, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels32.75, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better7.9%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.04, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study86--
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 pupils1,073
Girls511
Boys562
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.15.5%
First language not English24.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,328
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.19.2%
Sixth form places2024/25428
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.142
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.24
Average class size20.7

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
50.3%
Other White
19.3%
African
10.8%
Other Asian
2.9%
White and Asian
2.7%
Other mixed
2.7%
Indian
2.4%
White and Black African
1.8%
Irish
1.7%
White and Black Caribbean
1.5%

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 teacher17.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.3
Teachers (FTE)62.4
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.26
Support staff (FTE)41.16
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2562.6
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2550.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/257.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254.6

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.174
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.452
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.169
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.151
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)65

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 absence7.5%, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.17.2%, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.1%, similar to England, similar to 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 rate12.2%
Pupils with one or more suspensions6.1%
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.96.1%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.93.8%
School sixth form53.4%
Further education37.6%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.8%
Sixth form college1.7%
Apprenticeship1.7%
Employment0.6%

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.93.3%
Higher education69.7%
Employment21.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.5%
Apprenticeship0.8%
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 John F Kennedy Catholic School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miPrimaryMicklem Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryGalley Hill Primary School and NurseryCommunity school
Good
0.6 miPrimaryOakleaf PrimaryAcademy sponsor led
Unrated
0.7 miSecondaryLaureate AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.8 miPrimaryPixies Hill Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Cuthbert Mayne Voluntary Catholic Junior AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryGade Valley Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miNot applicableLockers Park SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.9 miPrimarySt Rose's Catholic Infant SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryBoxmoor Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about John F Kennedy Catholic School

What is John F Kennedy Catholic School's Ofsted rating?

John F Kennedy Catholic School is rated Good, last inspected on 12 May 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does John F Kennedy Catholic School rank in England?

John F Kennedy Catholic School ranks 747 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 77% of schools) and 1,510 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are John F Kennedy Catholic School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 62.9% of pupils at John F Kennedy Catholic School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 51.9 (England 46.2).

What are John F Kennedy Catholic School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at John F Kennedy Catholic School was C+, and 7.9% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into John F Kennedy Catholic School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, John F Kennedy Catholic School made 174 offers from 452 applications (2.6 per offer), and 151 of 169 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend John F Kennedy Catholic School?

John F Kennedy Catholic School has 1,073 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of John F Kennedy Catholic School?

John F Kennedy Catholic School had 1,328 school places in 2024/25.

Does John F Kennedy Catholic School have a sixth form?

Yes, John F Kennedy Catholic School has a sixth form with 428 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at John F Kennedy Catholic School?

At John F Kennedy Catholic School, the average class had 20.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at John F Kennedy Catholic School?

In 2025/26, pupils at John F Kennedy Catholic School missed 7.5% of sessions (England 8%), and 17.2% 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.