The Hemel Hempstead School, Hemel Hempstead

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades The Hemel Hempstead School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The ‘Hemel Hempstead Experience' sits at the heart of the school's vision."

Achievement - Expected standard. "The school's published outcomes are broadly in line with, and in some areas above, national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established effective attendance and behaviour systems that place pupils at the centre."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that curriculum plans are coherent and securely implemented."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils' needs well and accurately identify pupils' emerging and changing needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders' decisions are grounded in their ambition for pupils to become the best possible versions of themselves."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders' curriculum decisions are thoughtful and shaped by students' aspirations and the local context."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge, including early reading and writing, are swiftly identified and addressed"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers across subjects consistently adapt their teaching and provide effective feedback to pupils, in response to any weaknesses or misunderstandings that they identify in pupils' learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "This school has in that time continually nurtured young people who achieve enormous success and go on to the very best universities, apprenticeships, careers, and adventures. This journey is possible because, working in partnership: as carers, parents, children and teachers, we strive for nothing short of excellence for all our students."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2026, pupils at The Hemel Hempstead School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

50% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 49.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.14: pupils made 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 28.7, against 50.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 21.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 261 families put The Hemel Hempstead School as their first choice and 844 named it as one of their preferences, for 210 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 78 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Hemel Hempstead School are Laureate Academy (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); John F Kennedy Catholic School (1.2 miles, Attainment 8 51.9); The Adeyfield Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.7); and Longdean School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.7).

The Hemel Hempstead School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

The Hemel Hempstead School is one of 13 schools run by Scholars' Education Trust, an academy trust.

167 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Hemel Hempstead School (as of April 2026): 74% would recommend the school, 70% say their child is happy there and 51% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (51%).

Of the 212 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 36% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 119 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 58% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 21% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 230 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 28 (2.2%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Hemel Hempstead Rail Station, about 1110 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hemel Hempstead School (outside), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 382 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, The Hemel Hempstead School issued 122 suspensions, 9.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Hemel Hempstead School are South Hill Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Boxmoor Primary School (0.3 miles), St Rose's Catholic Infant School (0.6 miles) and Gade Valley Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.