Birchwood High School vs The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College
Side-by-side comparison of key school data
Birchwood High School
Bishop's Stortford
The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College
Bishop's Stortford
Overview
Phase
Secondary
Secondary
Type
Academy converter
Academy converter
Age Range
11–18
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Girls
Religious Character
None
None
Admissions
Non-selective
Non-selective
Local Authority
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Pupils & Capacity
Pupils
1417
1508
Capacity
1500
1360
Occupancy
94%
111%
FSM %
18.2%
6.0%
Nursery
Sixth Form
Boarding
Ofsted
Overall Rating
-
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Good
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Outstanding
Personal Development
Good
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Outstanding
Last Inspected
Jan 2025
Nov 2023
Performance (2026)
Progress 8
-
-
Attainment 8
45.5
62.0
GCSE Eng+Maths 5+
44.2%
70.4%
KS2 Reading
-
-
KS2 Maths
-
-
KS2 Writing
-
-
A-Level Performance (2024/25)
Average Grade
C+
B
Points Per Entry
32.1
41.0
Best 3 A-Levels
B-
B
AAB+ %
10%
23%
Value Added
Average
Above average
A-Level Students
79
243
Retention
95%
98%
University Destinations (2022/23 cohort)
Top-third university
13%
33%
Degree course
57%
75%
Any L4+ destination
63%
82%
Apprenticeships
4%
5%
Cohort size
104
297
A-Level Subjects
Subjects offered
15
15
Top subjects
Mathematics (58)
Sociology (58)
Sociology (56)
Geography (40)
Economics (36)
Mathematics (36)
Physics (30)
Psychology (28)
Mathematics (194)
Mathematics (192)
Psychology (164)
Psychology (140)
Biology (132)
Chemistry (130)
Biology (104)
Chemistry (92)