St George's School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Christian · Sixth form · Boarding

Part of ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL, HARPENDEN ACADEMY TRUST

Sun Lane, Harpenden, AL5 4TD

01582 765477 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 11 March 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths77%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 94% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,351Room for 1,406 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,375 in 2019, 1,360 in 2021, 1,344 in 2022, 1,369 in 2023, 1,384 in 2024, 1,362 in 2025, 1,351 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4235 for 170 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 90% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Hertfordshire comparisons use the 8 of its 82 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 74 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 94% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 85% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 96% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 89% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 97% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 84% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 95% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 74% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 66% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 59% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 83% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 89% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 2%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Hertfordshire figures pool parents at the Hertfordshire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

188 pupils in this year group.

77% — 23 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 31 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 77% 53% 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. 63.7 50.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.5 4.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 78%This school 2023/24: 81%This school 2024/25: 77% This school England 45% 2022/23 78% 2023/24 81% 2024/25 77%

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.

215 pupils in this year group.

99% — 4 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 99% 95% 92%
School sixth form 84% 58% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 2% 13%
Further education college 10% 31% 37%
Apprenticeship Not published 2% 3%
Work 1% 2% 3%

"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%99%

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

206 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average A level grade B+ B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 51% 29% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 77% 58% 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. 43.4 36.8 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 50 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 40.8This school 2023/24: 42.3This school 2024/25: 43.4 This school England 35 2022/23 40.8 2023/24 42.3 2024/25 43.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 634 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 72 25% 65% 40%
Geography 55 16% 56% 23%
Chemistry 46 15% 54% 30%
Biology 43 21% 56% 27%
Economics 43 16% 51% 26%
Art and Design (Graphics) 42 52% 79% 32%
Government and Politics 41 12% 54% 26%
English Literature 35 6% 29% 23%
Psychology 34 9% 35% 19%
Physics 30 17% 47% 31%
History 29 14% 59% 23%
Business Studies:Single 26 12% 27% 16%
Mathematics (Further) 19 42% 68% 59%
Religious Studies 17 6% 29% 22%
Art and Design (Photography) 15 20% 60% 26%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 14 43% 86% 38%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 12 25% 33% 15%
Computer Studies / Computing 11 0% 18% 24%
Drama and Theatre Studies 11 9% 36% 19%
French 11 9% 55% 38%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 11 0% 0% 17%
Music 9 0% 44% 29%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: German, Spanish, Media/Film/Tv Studies.

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.

179 students in this year group.

93% — 11 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 93% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 6% 7%
Work 8% 28% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%93%

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.

187 students in this year group.

93% — 30 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 33 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 93% 63% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 66% 24% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
91%93%

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 Hertfordshire. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered170
Families who put it first235
Of those, offered a place158 (67%)
Families who listed it at all578

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.4

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.

This is a Christian school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Hertfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 2% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.6% 17.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.9% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
19.6% 15.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Lower than 77% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.7% 7.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.9% 21.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Lower than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.3 13.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.5% 5.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.12% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 52% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.9 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 52% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.9 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Harpenden.
Higher than 10% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 12.7%* 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St George's School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did St George's School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 77% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 31 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend St George's School?

94% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St George's School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St George's School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 235 families put St George's School as their first choice for 170 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 158 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.