Birchwood High School, Bishop's Stortford

In its own words: "Birchwood High School is a mainstream secondary school providing 8 forms of entry for students in years 7 to 11 together with a vibrant Sixth Form offering a range of A-Level and BTech courses. We have great pride in being an inclusive school, with an all-ability ethos that respects and responds to our students and our local community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Birchwood, where you're not just part of a school, but something truly special. Our inclusive ethos is the heartbeat of our community. We are a school where everyone is welcomed and supported every step of the way. We are open to all and proud to celebrate individuality, making sure every student feels valued and empowered to succeed."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, basketball, guitar and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Birchwood High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 46.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.08: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 35.9, against 47.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 96 families put Birchwood High School as their first choice and 606 named it as one of their preferences, for 174 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Birchwood High School are Hockerill Anglo-European College (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 62.3); The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College (0.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 62); TLC Live Online School (1.1 miles); and St Mary's Catholic School (1.2 miles, Attainment 8 56.8).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Birchwood High School.

275 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Birchwood High School (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 66% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (60%).

Of the 231 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 119 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 45% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 35% into work. 13% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Bishop's Stortford Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birchwood High School (outside), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Birchwood High School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Birchwood High School issued 459 suspensions, 31.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Birchwood High School are Summercroft Primary School (0.1 miles); All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford (0.3 miles); Thorn Grove Primary School (0.8 miles); and Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.