The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College, Bishop's Stortford

In its own words: "With these values in mind, the staff at Herts & Essex provide the students with challenges that capture their interests and develop their thinking inside and outside the classroom. Our mission statement is Excellence for All , encapsulating our philosophy that we deliver a personalised high quality experience for every student."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are proud to serve this wonderful community and care deeply about providing all our girls with an exceptional education and the belief that nothing is beyond their reach. There is substantial evidence which indicates that girls achieve their best in a single-sex environment."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, basketball, badminton, multi-sports, karate and dance.

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 62, 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 down from 63.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.65: 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.

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

For September 2026 entry, 213 families put The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College as their first choice and 516 named it as one of their preferences, for 178 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 61 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College are Hockerill Anglo-European College (0.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 62.3); TLC Live Online School (0.4 miles); Birchwood High School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); and St Mary's Catholic School (0.8 miles, Attainment 8 56.8).

The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College is one of 2 schools run by Herts & Essex Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 182 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 256 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 70% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 33% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 120 pupils (8%) received SEN support and 20 (1.3%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Bishop's Stortford Rail Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hillside (near), 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College 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 232 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences 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 Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College issued 30 suspensions, 2.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College are Thorn Grove Primary School (0.3 miles); All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford (0.6 miles); Summercroft Primary School (0.6 miles); and St Michael's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.