The Astley Cooper School, Hemel Hempstead

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades The Astley Cooper School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Provision for vulnerable pupils is thoughtfully planned and well led."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have deliberately designed a small and highly inclusive post-16 provision that reflects the needs of the local community."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Outcomes for pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, remain below the national averages across key measures."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance remains a key focus for development."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "While the curriculum intent is appropriate, its implementation, and therefore its impact, are not yet consistently high enough."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders demonstrate a clear moral purpose, placing pupils' best interests at the centre of decision-making."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Work to understand the impact of the curriculum is at an early stage."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all pupils secure the foundational knowledge needed to access the curriculum confidently"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment effectively to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge or understanding so they can apply the most appropriate adaptations in their lessons"; "Leaders should continue to improve standards in behaviour and rates of attendance across all groups of pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that all pupils have a secure understanding of fundamental British values and protected characteristics"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that their monitoring and quality assurance are rigorous and precise across all areas of the school's work".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and homework club.

In 2026, pupils at The Astley Cooper School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 33.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

21% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 34.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.6: pupils made well 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 27.3, against 37.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Hospitality and Catering.

For September 2026 entry, 161 families put The Astley Cooper School as their first choice and 285 named it as one of their preferences, for 175 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Astley Cooper School are The Adeyfield Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.7); Laureate Academy (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); The Hemel Hempstead School (2.3 miles, Attainment 8 47.3); and Longdean School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Astley Cooper School.

Of the 168 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 54% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 21% into work. 4% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 257 pupils (28.1%) received SEN support and 43 (4.7%) 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 Astley Cooper School had 71 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 Hemel Hempstead Rail Station, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.

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

In 2024/25, The Astley Cooper School issued 380 suspensions, 40.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 8 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Astley Cooper School are Maple Grove Primary School (0.1 miles), Holtsmere End Junior School (0.3 miles), Holtsmere End Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles) and Aycliffe Drive Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.