SchoolScoresThe Astley Cooper School
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
St Agnell's Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL
01442 394141 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 18 June 2026.
In short: 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
161 pupils in this year group.
27% — 27 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 19 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 27% | 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. | 34.7 | 50.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 2.9 | 4.6 | 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.
135 pupils in this year group.
87% — 8 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 95% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 41% | 58% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 2% | 13% |
| Further education college | 38% | 31% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 87% |
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
29 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D+ | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 12% | 29% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 24% | 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. | 24.7 | 36.8 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
10 subjects, 51 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design (Photography) | 10 | 0% | 10% | 26% |
| Biology | 8 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| English Literature | 8 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Chemistry, Computer Studies / Computing, Mathematics, Physics, History, Arabic.
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.
29 students in this year group.
83% — about the same as the Hertfordshire average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 83% | 82% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 6% | 7% |
| Work | 21% | 28% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 76% | 83% |
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.
19 students in this year group.
53% — 10 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 53% | 63% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 11% | 24% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 50% | 53% |
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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 175 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 161 |
| Of those, offered a place | 154 (96%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 285 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.7 · 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 | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 36.8% | 17.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.8% | 3.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 25.0% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.6% | 15.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 7.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 39.2% | 21.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 40.1 | 13.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.7% | 5.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded8 pupils | 0.84% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 3% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.2 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead. Higher than 56% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4% | 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
- The Adeyfield Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 22% grade 5+ English and maths
- Laureate Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lockers Park School 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Hemel Hempstead School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Longdean School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- John F Kennedy Catholic School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Astley Cooper School's Ofsted rating?
The Astley Cooper School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Astley Cooper School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 27% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Astley Cooper School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 161 families put The Astley Cooper School as their first choice for 175 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 154 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 117552.
- 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.