SchoolScoresJohn Masefield High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of JOHN MASEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE
Mabel's Furlong, Ledbury, HR8 2HF
01531 631012 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 November 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 November 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
149 pupils in this year group.
39% — 4 points below the Herefordshire, County of average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 39% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 46.2 | 44.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
139 pupils in this year group.
95% — 3 points above the Herefordshire, County of average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 95% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 34% | 8% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 24% | 37% | 13% |
| Further education college | 32% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 95% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
43 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C- | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 11% | 22% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 33% | 51% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 28.3 | 33.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
19 subjects, 123 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 5% | 20% | 40% |
| Psychology | 14 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
| Business Studies:Single | 13 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| Physics | 11 | 9% | 9% | 31% |
| English Literature | 10 | 0% | 20% | 23% |
| Biology | 9 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 8 | 0% | 13% | 24% |
| Geography | 7 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physical Education / Sports Studies, Accounting / Finance, French, Mathematics (Further), Chemistry, Drama and Theatre Studies, History, Music, Art and Design (Fine Art), Art and Design (Photography), German.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
53 students in this year group.
87% — 7 points above the Herefordshire, County of average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 87% | 80% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 8% | 7% |
| Work | 32% | 39% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 87% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
54 students in this year group.
76% — 28 points above the Herefordshire, County of average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 76% | 48% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 31% | 15% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 51% | 76% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Herefordshire, County of. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 142 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 133 |
| Of those, offered a place | 133 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 213 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 7th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.8% | 20.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.1% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 87% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.9% | 18.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.6% | 10.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.1% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4% | 21.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0 | 13.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Lower than 91% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.9% | 5.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.0 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of. Higher than 72% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 17.7% | 13.5%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Questions parents ask
What is John Masefield High School's Ofsted rating?
John Masefield High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 November 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 November 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did John Masefield High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points below the England average of 45%.
Is John Masefield High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 133 families put John Masefield High School as their first choice for 142 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 133 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 136803.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.