Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #71 in Hertfordshire public Top 36% UK

Fearnhill School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Tim Spencer

corporate_fareLetchworth Garden City Education Partnership

location_onLetchworth, SG6 4BA

language Visit Website phone 1462621200

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

570

trending_up

Attainment 8

38.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#72 in Hertfordshire

#2,681 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Fearnhill School is a Foundation school secondary school in Letchworth, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Fearnhill School is a foundation school in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of Letchworth Garden City Education Partnership. The school has approximately 601 pupils on roll, of whom 39% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.9, placing the school #72 in Hertfordshire and #2,681 of 3,216 nationally. 26.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 11.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 14 A-level subjects. 26.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 4.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.36 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 13.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

26.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)11.0%

Entering EBacc39.00%

EBacc APS3.56

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44.30%

EBacc APS3.78

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS3.73

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS4.37

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS3.15

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS3.05

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.36

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*–A4.0%

Achieving A*–B26.0%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate78.3%

A-level subjects offered14

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.17

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.50%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate87.90%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate96.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

13 September 2022

Inspection Report

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12 February 2019

Inspection Report

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16 June 2015

Inspection Report

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16 January 2014

Inspection Report

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17 September 2013

Inspection Report

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06 March 2012

Inspection Report

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28 November 2011

Inspection Report

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06 July 2011

Inspection Report

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02 February 2011

Inspection Report

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01 November 2007

Inspection Report

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05 March 2007

Inspection Report

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24 January 2005

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-09-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-02-12

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-06-16

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

9.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.3%(32 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 601 pupils. During this period, there were 58 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 9.7%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	601	58	9.7%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	606	101	16.7%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	588	94	16.0%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	596	48	8.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	599	118	19.7%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	569	92	16.2%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	570	45	7.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	565	55	9.7%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	517	48	9.3%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	516	29	5.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	516	22	4.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	498	24	4.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	503	4	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	503	22	4.4%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	475	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	475	8	1.7%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	480	22	4.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	429	10	2.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	420	23	5.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	425	17	4.0%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	441	26	5.9%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	440	28	6.4%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	447	31	6.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	481	35	7.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	483	41	8.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	481	38	7.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 39 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

77.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

79.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree32%

agree40%

disagree14%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree23%

agree40%

disagree27%

strongly disagree8%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree25%

agree25%

disagree14%

strongly disagree12%

don't know1%

not applicable23%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes38%

no62%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree28%

agree17%

disagree24%

strongly disagree24%

dont know7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree34%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree32%

disagree9%

strongly disagree12%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree35%

agree38%

disagree14%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree56%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree43%

disagree3%

strongly disagree4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree31%

disagree17%

strongly disagree9%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes74%

no26%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Dame Alice Owen's School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School