Dame Alice Owen's School vs The Orchard School
Side-by-side comparison of key school data
Dame Alice Owen's School
Potters Bar
The Orchard School
Potters Bar
Overview
Phase
Secondary
Special
Type
Academy converter
Other independent special school
Age Range
11–18
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Mixed
Religious Character
None
None
Admissions
Non-selective
-
Local Authority
Hertfordshire
Somerset
Pupils & Capacity
Pupils
1467
4
Capacity
1416
20
Occupancy
104%
20%
FSM %
4.3%
-
Nursery
Sixth Form
Boarding
Ofsted
Overall Rating
Outstanding
Good
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Good
Last Inspected
Dec 2023
Jan 2023
Performance (2026)
Progress 8
-
-
Attainment 8
73.6
-
GCSE Eng+Maths 5+
91.4%
-
KS2 Reading
-
-
KS2 Maths
-
-
KS2 Writing
-
-
A-Level Performance (2024/25)
Average Grade
A-
-
Points Per Entry
48.1
-
Best 3 A-Levels
A-
-
AAB+ %
51%
-
Value Added
Well above average
-
A-Level Students
222
-
Retention
100%
-
University Destinations (2022/23 cohort)
Top-third university
71%
-
Degree course
93%
-
Any L4+ destination
96%
-
Apprenticeships
2%
-
Cohort size
209
-
A-Level Subjects
Subjects offered
15
0
Top subjects
Mathematics (272)
Mathematics (256)
Chemistry (144)
Chemistry (140)
Biology (138)
Biology (128)
History (116)
History (108)