Presdales School, Ware

From the headteacher's welcome: "Friday 9th Flu Vaccinations (Years 7 to 11) Year 12 & Year 13 English A Level Poetry workshop with Daljit Nagra, Ware (pm)"

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 30 October 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 6pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Presdales School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 58.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

70% 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 58.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.61: 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 44.2, against 59.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.7 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 191 families put Presdales School as their first choice and 437 named it as one of their preferences, for 173 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 29 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Presdales School are The Chauncy School (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 49.4); Simon Balle All-Through School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 52.9); Richard Hale School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54); and The John Warner School (2.3 miles, Attainment 8 40.1).

Presdales School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Of the 175 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% 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 134 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 41% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 83 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 31 (2.7%) 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 Ware Rail Station, about 570 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (outside), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Presdales 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, Presdales School issued 35 suspensions, 3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Presdales School are Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles), Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles), St Catherine's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles) and Wheatcroft Primary School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.