Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #61 in Hertfordshire public Top 31% UK

Bushey Meads School

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

personHead not listed

corporate_fareBUSHEY ST JAMES TRUST

location_onBushey, WD23 4PA

language Visit Website phone 2089503000

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,226

trending_up

Attainment 8

43.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#57 in Hertfordshire

#2,004 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Bushey Meads School is a Academy converter secondary school in Bushey, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Bushey Meads School is an academy converter in Bushey, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BUSHEY ST JAMES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,236 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.6, placing the school #57 in Hertfordshire and #2,004 of 3,216 nationally. 41.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 28 A-level subjects. 31.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 10.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.06 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 17.0 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

43.6

Grade 5+ E&M

41.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.6%

Entering EBacc11.20%

EBacc APS3.47

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.45

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6.50%

EBacc APS3.22

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS3.97

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9%

EBacc APS4.32

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS4.08

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS4.26

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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

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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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

-0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

114

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.1%

Achieving A*–A10.9%

Achieving A*–B31.9%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate92.1%

A-level subjects offered28

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.1

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

104

Retention rate90.40%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

120

Retention rate87.50%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

119

Retention rate96.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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12 November 2019

Inspection Report

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07 March 2019

Inspection Report

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29 September 2015

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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23 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2025-01-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-11-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2019-03-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-09-29

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-02-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2007-05-16

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

history Predecessor Link

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

13.7%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

7.4%(92 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 1,236 pupils. During this period, there were 169 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 13.7%, 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)	1,236	169	13.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,241	252	20.3%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,209	178	14.7%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,213	259	21.4%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,218	202	16.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,220	117	9.6%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,226	77	6.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,232	67	5.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,221	47	3.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,230	26	2.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,232	67	5.4%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,242	40	3.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,244	14	1.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,250	37	3.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,251	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,251	18	1.4%	3.2%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,248	44	3.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,221	35	2.9%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,223	25	2.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,233	34	2.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,179	16	1.4%	3.4%	3
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,178	6	0.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,183	21	1.8%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,120	10	0.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,120	12	1.1%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,126	19	1.7%	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 97 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 52 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 44 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 33 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Physical Disability 13 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 7 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 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.

70.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

74.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree13%

agree36%

disagree27%

strongly disagree19%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree5%

agree36%

disagree39%

strongly disagree16%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree14%

agree31%

disagree23%

strongly disagree16%

don't know3%

not applicable12%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree14%

agree25%

disagree39%

strongly disagree18%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree21%

agree42%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know12%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree14%

agree53%

disagree19%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree12%

agree45%

disagree27%

strongly disagree14%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree29%

agree51%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree23%

agree58%

disagree11%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree16%

agree36%

disagree24%

strongly disagree11%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes57%

no43%

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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.

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

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Dame Alice Owen's School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School