Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #76 in Hertfordshire public Top 43% UK

The Highfield School

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

personHead not listed

location_onLetchworth Garden City, SG6 3QA

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

987

trending_up

Progress 8

-0.41

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GCSE Rank

#74 in Hertfordshire

#2,530 of 4,676 nationally

summarize

The Highfield School is a Foundation school secondary school in Letchworth Garden City, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Pupils make below-average progress (Progress 8: -0.41).

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School Summary

The Highfield School is a foundation school in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 987 pupils on roll.

In 2024, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.1, placing the school #74 in Hertfordshire and #2,530 of 4,676 nationally. Progress 8 was -0.41 — below-average pupil progress.

A-level value added: 0.01 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. There are 2 teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 22.4%.

In the 2022/23 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 4.6 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)

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.41

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36.50%

EBacc APS3.76

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc49%

EBacc APS4.09

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS4.29

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.78

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.64

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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.

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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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.

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate84.40%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate93.20%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-05-17

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-04-27

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-06-04

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-02-09

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

2.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 6.6% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.8%(18 pupils)

Summer term 2023

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.694% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2023, this school served a headcount of 974 pupils. During this period, there were 28 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.9%, which is below the termly national average of 6.6%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2022/23 (Summer term)	974	28	2.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	987	43	4.4%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	984	64	6.5%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	960	46	4.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	974	59	6.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	976	53	5.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	953	36	3.8%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	963	11	1.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	962	28	2.9%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	962	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	962	9	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	972	18	1.9%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	974	27	2.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	979	16	1.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	994	24	2.4%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	977	49	5.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	986	17	1.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	981	25	2.5%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	992	33	3.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	999	21	2.1%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,001	23	2.3%	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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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.

78.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

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

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree9%

agree53%

disagree22%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree14%

agree44%

disagree28%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree22%

agree35%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know6%

not applicable14%

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

yes32%

no68%

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

strongly agree46%

agree36%

disagree7%

strongly disagree11%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree22%

agree47%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know14%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree26%

agree56%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree53%

disagree16%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree38%

agree56%

disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree40%

agree50%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree20%

agree47%

disagree16%

strongly disagree7%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes72%

no28%

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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)

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

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