The Astley Cooper School, Hemel Hempstead
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Astley Cooper School excels at including and supporting all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and from disadvantaged backgrounds. Teachers and staff create a calm, purposeful environment where pupils feel cared for and safe. The school is particularly strong at helping pupils progress from low starting points and ensuring almost all move on to appropriate next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture with open systems and positive relationships with pupils
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through targeted interventions and additional resources
- Well-designed inclusive post-16 provision with high retention rates and successful student destinations
- Positive behavior and calm classrooms with clear routines and restorative approaches
- Proactive support for disadvantaged pupils using funding effectively
Areas for Improvement
- Academic outcomes remain below national averages, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
- Attendance rates for vulnerable groups significantly below national averages and limiting access to learning
- Teaching quality and curriculum implementation inconsistent across the school, with some teachers missing opportunities to adapt learning
- Impact of personal development curriculum not yet fully embedded, particularly in areas like British values
- Leadership improvements still at early stage and not yet consistently embedded across all areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders fulfilling responsibilities and establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, resulting in pupils feeling safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading leads, officiating matches, work placements, sporting activities, enrichment activities
The Astley Cooper School is an inclusive secondary school in Hertfordshire with a clear moral purpose and strong commitment to supporting vulnerable pupils. However, the school requires improvement in academic outcomes, attendance, and consistency of teaching quality.
At a Glance
34.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.2
Avg class size
39
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Social & online
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
914 pupils
1,055 capacity
141 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Hemel Hempstead
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Hemel Hempstead
Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire
Places available
15,354
Applications
13,699
Got 1st preference
75.8%
Got preferred school
94.7%
Secondary admissions across Hertfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(111)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.65106%
Overall absence
39.21348%
Persistent absence
890
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Astley Cooper School
Haywood Grove School
Maple Grove Primary School
Holtsmere End Junior School
Holtsmere End Infant and Nursery School
Aycliffe Drive Primary School
Brockswood Primary School
Hammond Academy
Jupiter Primary School
Yewtree Primary School
Hobletts Manor Infants' School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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