Fearnhill School, Letchworth

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Fearnhill School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically develop appropriate knowledge and skills across the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils study an ambitious and broad range of subjects across the curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school creates an inclusive culture that puts all pupils, including those who have barriers to their learning, at the forefront of decision-making."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a precise understanding of the school's context, including pupils who face barriers to their learning and need additional support across the curriculum."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a personal development and wellbeing programme to support the needs of their pupils and community."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Students benefit from an ambitious, inclusive and welcoming post-16 provision."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders' work to improve pupils' attendance remains a priority."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that processes to increase pupils' attendance are accurately evaluated and are being monitored effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently develop their teaching and learning practice, across all subjects, to support pupils producing their highest standards of work".

In its own words: "Welcome to Fearnhill School, where we pride ourselves on being a small, happy community - the Fearnhill Family. At our school, every student is safe, supported and cared for, and we work tirelessly to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors feels like they belong. Strong relationships are at the heart of everything we do."

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 3 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Fearnhill School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

19% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 38.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.14: pupils made below 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 34.7, against 40 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 76 families put Fearnhill School as their first choice and 254 named it as one of their preferences, for 86 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 Fearnhill School are The Highfield School (0.6 miles, Attainment 8 42); The Priory School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.5); Hitchin Girls' School (2.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.8); and Hitchin Boys' School (2.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.8).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Fearnhill School.

Fearnhill School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 106 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 55% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 25 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 60% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 32% into work. 10% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

38% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (8%).

Fearnhill School had 45 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Letchworth Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bursland (near), 220 metres away.

In 2024/25, Fearnhill School issued 210 suspensions, 34.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Fearnhill School are Icknield Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles), Wilbury Junior School (0.5 miles), St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles) and Pixmore Junior School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.