Hitchin Boys' School, Hitchin

In its own words: "We believe that there is no single story of masculinity, that there are infinite ways to be a boy, all of them worth celebrating, protecting, nurturing and growing. We want a Hitchin Boy to be Strong and True. Strong by having a strength of character, purpose and resolve and True to themselves and others."

From the headteacher's welcome: "For almost four centuries, Hitchin Boys' School has provided boys with exceptional educational opportunities, focusing on preparing young men for lives of leadership, purpose, and service. Here, academic excellence and achievement are certainly important, but we particularly pride ourselves on our co-curricular offer and our substantial pastoral support."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include rugby, hockey, drama, Duke of Edinburgh and homework club.

On phones, the school says: "We are seeing a shift in school culture due to being a phone free school."

In 2026, pupils at Hitchin Boys' School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 56.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

65% 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 57.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.57: pupils made well above 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 39, against 59 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Geography, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 237 families put Hitchin Boys' School as their first choice and 399 named it as one of their preferences, for 203 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 34 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Hitchin Boys' School are Hitchin Girls' School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.8); The Priory School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.5); The Highfield School (2 miles, Attainment 8 42); and Fearnhill School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.5).

Hitchin Boys' School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

445 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hitchin Boys' School (as of April 2026): 98% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 91% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (98%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (89%).

Of the 208 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 21% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 132 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 55% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 26% into work. 34% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

7.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%), Asian (11%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 243 pupils (17.8%) received SEN support and 39 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Hitchin Rail Station, about 1060 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bancroft, 200 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hitchin Boys' School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 246 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hitchin Boys' School issued 95 suspensions, 7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Hitchin Boys' School are Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy (0.2 miles); Samuel Lucas Primary School (0.3 miles); Highbury Infant School and Nursery (0.5 miles); and St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.