Monk's Walk School, Welwyn Garden City

In its own words: "At Monk's Walk, we want to prepare students for life beyond school, in what is a rapidly changing society. We do this by helping them to develop their MONKS Character Habits which are based on the Hertfordshire Skills Framework for Employability . Through our guidance students learn how to motivate themselves to take up any opportunities made available to them."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to serve as the Headteacher of Monk's Walk School, where we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and personally and provide an environment where students are encouraged to explore their interests, develop their talents, and achieve their full potential."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Monk's Walk School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 50.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.24: pupils made 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 32.4, against 51.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 228 families put Monk's Walk School as their first choice and 602 named it as one of their preferences, for 221 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 37 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Monk's Walk School are Ridgeway Academy (1.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.4); Stanborough School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.3); Onslow St Audrey's School (4.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.1); and Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School (4.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.5).

Monk's Walk School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 224 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 128 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 61% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 26% into work. 30% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.4% 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%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest railway station is Welwyn North Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Monk's Walk School (opposite), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Monk's Walk 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 73 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).

In 2024/25, Monk's Walk School issued 116 suspensions, 8.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Monk's Walk School are Homerswood Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles), Welwyn St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.5 miles), Harwood Hill Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School (0.6 miles) and Templewood Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.