Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #18 in Hertfordshire public Top 5% UK

Loreto College

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

personMrs Lucy Thompson

corporate_fareLORETO COLLEGE (ST ALBANS)

location_onSt Albans, AL1 3RQ

language Visit Website phone 1727856206

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

962

trending_up

Attainment 8

58.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#18 in Hertfordshire

#302 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Loreto College is a Academy converter secondary school in St Albans, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Loreto College is an academy converter in St Albans, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of LORETO COLLEGE (ST ALBANS). The school has approximately 930 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 58.3, placing the school #18 in Hertfordshire and #302 of 3,216 nationally. 59.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 32.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 26 A-level subjects. 41.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 19.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.15 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.3 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

58.3

Grade 5+ E&M

59.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)32.9%

Entering EBacc89.70%

EBacc APS5.52

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc81.10%

EBacc APS5.59

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.78

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

60.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc76%

EBacc APS5.61

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.83

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

64.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS6.01

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc78%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.8

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc74%

EBacc APS5.57

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.89

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

60.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc79%

EBacc APS5.71

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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

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)98%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

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

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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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

+0.15

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.3%

Achieving A*–A19.5%

Achieving A*–B41.5%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate98.6%

A-level subjects offered26

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.2

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate97.30%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate94.00%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate100.0%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-15

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

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2013-05-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-06-03

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

1.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.3%(12 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 930 pupils. During this period, there were 12 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.3%, 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
2024/25 (Spring term)	930	12	1.3%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	924	12	1.3%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	949	10	1.1%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	946	13	1.4%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	946	17	1.8%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	961	24	2.5%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	962	21	2.2%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	957	4	0.4%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	951	25	2.6%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	955	23	2.4%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	957	16	1.7%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	945	10	1.1%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	949	3	0.3%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	939	20	2.1%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	944	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	944	11	1.2%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	949	6	0.6%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	942	12	1.3%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	942	7	0.7%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	939	12	1.3%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	944	4	0.4%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	944	6	0.6%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	942	3	0.3%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	900	3	0.3%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	906	4	0.4%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	911	6	0.7%	3.1%

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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 59 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 37 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree59%

agree34%

disagree6%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree36%

agree43%

disagree16%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree34%

agree15%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

not applicable37%

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

yes15%

no85%

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

strongly agree59%

agree18%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree54%

agree36%

disagree3%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree39%

disagree6%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree43%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree52%

agree40%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree52%

agree44%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree48%

agree36%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

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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

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

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