SchoolScoresThe Purcell School
Independent school · All-through, ages 8 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form · Boarding
Aldenham Road, Bushey, Bushey, WD23 2TS
01923 331100 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
This independent school is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. ISI doesn't publish its judgements as open data, so we can't show them here. You can read its reports on the ISI website.
Results
We show A level results only. DfE's GCSE figures leave out the IGCSEs many independent schools use, so they can look far lower than pupils' real results. The IB Diploma and Pre-U aren't included in the A level figures either. DfE doesn't publish where independent school students go after sixth form.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
42 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B- | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 32% | 29% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 57% | 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. | 37 | 36.8 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
16 subjects, 120 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 42 | 14% | 48% | 29% |
| Music Technology | 22 | 5% | 9% | 15% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 14 | 14% | 43% | 38% |
| English Literature | 13 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 6 | 17% | 33% | 40% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: French, History, Biology, Drama and Theatre Studies, Art and Design (Photography), Chemistry, German, History of Art, Mathematics (Further), Polish, Sociology.
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.
Admissions
Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 0.0% | 17.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 1.0% | 3.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 15.9% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language | Not published | 15.4%* | 19.2% |
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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Queens' School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 68% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Grange Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bushey Meads School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Watford Grammar School for Girls 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 83% grade 5+ English and maths
- Edge Grove School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Margaret's School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 35% A*/A at A level
- Aldenham School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 17% A*/A at A level
- Immanuel College 1.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 64% A*/A at A level
- Watford Grammar School for Boys 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 exceptional, 1 strong · 83% grade 5+ English and maths
- Stanborough Secondary School 2.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 0% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
How did The Purcell School do in its A levels?
In 2024/25, 32% of A level exams were graded A* or A, 6 points above the England average of 26%.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 102256.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.