The Sele School

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

Part of THE SELE SCHOOL

Welwyn Road, Hertford, SG14 2DG

01992 581455 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 7 May 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths21%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 4% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils382Room for 699 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 385 in 2019, 402 in 2021, 427 in 2022, 423 in 2023, 436 in 2024, 396 in 2025, 382 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.645 for 75 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 9% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 7 May 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 educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

StatementThis schoolHertfordEngland
My child is happy at this school
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 91% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78% 93% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 29% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 90% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 29 parents whose child had been bullied
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 20% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
38% 56% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 51 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 37% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
65% 83% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 19 parents of children with SEND
17th highest of 20 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire.
Higher than 16% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
42% – 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford.
Higher than 35% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
73%said yes 91% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 15%). 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. Hertford figures pool parents at the Hertford 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

73 pupils in this year group.

21% — 33 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 25 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 21% 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. 35.7 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
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 35%This school 2023/24: 33%This school 2024/25: 21% This school England 45% 2022/23 35% 2023/24 33% 2024/25 21%

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.

75 pupils in this year group.

93% — 2 points below the Hertfordshire average, and about the same as 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. 93% 95% 92%
School sixth form 25% 58% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 2% 13%
Further education college 63% 31% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 2% 3%
Work 4% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%93%

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

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average A level grade Not published B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A – 29% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B – 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. Not published 36.8 35

"Not published": No pupils were entered.

Average A level grade, over time

2022/232023/242024/25
CNot publishedNot published

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.

11 students in this year group.

55% — 27 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 24 points below 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. 55% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 0% 6% 7%
Work 9% 28% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
100%55%

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.

9 students in this year group.

Only 9 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

67% — 4 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 67% 63% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 0% 24% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
82%67%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered75
Families who put it first45
Of those, offered a place45 (100%)
Families who listed it at all168

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 2025: 0.5 · 2026: 0.6

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Hertfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
35.0% 17.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.3% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.5% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
13.6% 15.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Lower than 5% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
12.9% 7.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
41.0% 21.1%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
43.4 13.4 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
18.7% 5.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.51% 0.12% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.4 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.4 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Hertford.
Higher than 76% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
18.8% 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 The Sele School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did The Sele School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 21% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 25 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Sele School?

73% of the 60 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Sele School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Sele School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 45 families put The Sele School as their first choice for 75 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 45 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.