Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #25 in Hertfordshire public Top 6% UK

Richard Hale School

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

personHead not listed

corporate_fareRICHARD HALE SCHOOL

location_onHertford, SG13 8EN

language Visit Website phone 1992583441

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,227

trending_up

Attainment 8

56.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#27 in Hertfordshire

#392 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Richard Hale School is a Academy converter secondary school in Hertford, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

article

School Summary

Richard Hale School is an academy converter in Hertford, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of RICHARD HALE SCHOOL. The school has approximately 1,209 pupils on roll, of whom 10% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 56.3, placing the school #27 in Hertfordshire and #392 of 3,216 nationally. 65.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 30.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 21 A-level subjects. 50.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 22.6% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.14 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.9 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

56.3

Grade 5+ E&M

65.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)30.1%

Entering EBacc63.40%

EBacc APS5.31

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc69.70%

EBacc APS5.07

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS5.18

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.39

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS5.55

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc62%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS4.81

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS5.13

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

99%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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

-0.14

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

117

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*7.9%

Achieving A*–A22.6%

Achieving A*–B50.0%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate98.3%

A-level subjects offered21

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.28

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

136

Retention rate94.90%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

136

Retention rate98.50%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

121

Retention rate96.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

09 July 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

03 December 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

09 February 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-07-09

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-02-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2011-11-28

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2006-12-06

None EIF

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

1.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.7%(20 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 1,209 pupils. During this period, there were 23 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.9%, 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)	1,209	23	1.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,211	24	2.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,214	13	1.1%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,217	24	2.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,222	32	2.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,226	44	3.6%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,227	25	2.0%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,223	23	1.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,198	11	0.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,203	14	1.2%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,201	15	1.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,185	17	1.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,190	3	0.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,191	32	2.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,169	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,169	12	1.0%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,170	28	2.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,121	35	3.1%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,121	31	2.8%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,127	25	2.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,127	16	1.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,128	9	0.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,134	12	1.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,126	11	1.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,132	30	2.7%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,134	18	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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 34 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 33 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree49%

agree40%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree25%

agree51%

disagree17%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree42%

agree23%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

not applicable20%

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

yes18%

no82%

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

strongly agree28%

agree30%

disagree26%

strongly disagree15%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree57%

agree31%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree49%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree52%

agree44%

disagree3%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree61%

agree35%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree41%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Secondary Schools in Hertfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Dame Alice Owen's School

Outstanding

location_on Potters Bar, EN6 2DU

emoji_events #1 in LA

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

View all schools in Hertfordshire arrow_forward

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