Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #1 in Hertfordshire public Top 2% UK

Dame Alice Owen's School

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

personMrs Hannah Nemko

corporate_fareDAME ALICE OWEN'S SCHOOL

location_onPotters Bar, EN6 2DU

language Visit Website phone 1707643441

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,449

trending_up

Attainment 8

72.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#1 in Hertfordshire

#86 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Dame Alice Owen's School is a Academy converter secondary school in Potters Bar, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 1.6× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

article

School Summary

Dame Alice Owen's School is an academy converter in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of DAME ALICE OWEN'S SCHOOL. The school has approximately 1,468 pupils on roll, of whom 5% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 72.9, placing the school #1 in Hertfordshire and #86 of 3,216 nationally. 87.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 71.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 28 A-level subjects. 88.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 65.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.39 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

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

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.6× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.7 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

72.9

Grade 5+ E&M

87.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)71.7%

Entering EBacc73.50%

EBacc APS6.96

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.92

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

73.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc77.10%

EBacc APS7.04

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

71.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc82%

EBacc APS6.81

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.74

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

75.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc83%

EBacc APS7.31

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc81%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc78%

EBacc APS6.87

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.86

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

73.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc83%

EBacc APS7.11

explore

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

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships0%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)SP%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)SP%

workspace_premium

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

+0.39

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

A-

Students

222

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*30.2%

Achieving A*–A65.8%

Achieving A*–B88.8%

VA Banding Well above average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered28

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.16

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

A-

Students

234

Retention rate99.10%

2023

Avg Grade

A-

Students

212

Retention rate98.60%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

215

Retention rate99.1%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

05 December 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

14 February 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-12-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-05-07

Section 5 RTI Historic EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-06-21

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

1.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(13 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,468 pupils. During this period, there were 14 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.0%, which is below 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)	1,468	14	1.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,468	8	0.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,478	11	0.7%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,479	7	0.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,475	9	0.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,448	4	0.3%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,449	10	0.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,457	13	0.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,444	16	1.1%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,447	17	1.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,448	9	0.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,446	13	0.9%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,449	7	0.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,448	5	0.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,440	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,440	13	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,443	10	0.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,453	6	0.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,451	18	1.2%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,450	11	0.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,453	6	0.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,454	9	0.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,459	15	1.0%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,464	6	0.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,466	6	0.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,467	24	1.6%	3.1%	0

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 56 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 51 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 51 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

Top Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 7JF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD18 0AE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Parmiter's School

Outstanding

location_on Watford, WD25 0UU

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Clement Danes School

Outstanding

location_on Rickmansworth, WD3 6EW

emoji_events #5 in LA

Sandringham School

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL4 9NX

emoji_events #6 in LA

Beaumont School

Outstanding

location_on St Albans, AL4 0XB

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Hertfordshire arrow_forward

Dame Alice Owen's School

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)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School

Beaumont School