The Hurst School, Tadley
The Hurst School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Tadley. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 33rd-highest of the 69 schools in Hampshire with published results, and 1,698th of 3,298 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Hampshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Hurst School in detail
The Hurst School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "The Hurst School is an aspirational school of just over 1,000 students. It enjoys a semi-rural location and makes the best of its large site and green surroundings. It has a strong ethos and is driven by its values of ambition, commitment, respect, excellence and community. It was last rated "Good" by Ofsted in October 2024."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, basketball, badminton, swimming, yoga, dance, drama and choir.
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Hampshire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at The Hurst School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.6 in Hampshire and 47 across England.
41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Hampshire and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 45.3.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.37: 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 32.1, against 49.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.3 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.
Getting a place at The Hurst School
For September 2026 entry, 185 families put The Hurst School as their first choice and 282 named it as one of their preferences, for 204 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to The Hurst School are Kennet School (4.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48); and The Willink School (5.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.8).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Hurst School.
What parents say
212 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Hurst School (as of September 2025): 76% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 69% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (85%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (65%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 201 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.
Who goes there
15.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 107 pupils (10.5%) received SEN support and 38 (3.7%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Midgham Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Hurst Community College (adjacent), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Hurst School 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 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, burglary and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Hurst School issued 171 suspensions, 16.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to The Hurst School are Burnham Copse Primary School (0.9 miles), Ashford Hill Primary School (1.4 miles), Bishopswood Junior School (1.5 miles) and Bishopswood Infant School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Burnham Copse Primary SchoolAshford Hill Primary SchoolBishopswood Junior SchoolBishopswood Infant School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The school puts pupils at the heart of everything it does. Pupils who told inspectors that 'they don't just hear, they listen' summed this up. Pupils feel happy and safe, which is reflected in their high attendance. The school goes to great lengths to support pupils whose circumstances make them vulnerable. The Wellbeing Centre, the 'Hub' and the 'Lodge' play an important part in ensuring that vulnerable pupils attend school regularly and are well prepared for their next steps. Pupils value the support they receive from the dedicated staff. Pupils achieve well in most subjects, but there are some variations. There remains more to do before the school's ambitions for all pupils are fully met.
The majority of pupils consistently meet the school's high expectations for behaviour. Pupils understand the clear routines that ensure they are ready to learn throughout the day. Pupils are polite and respectful to each other and staff. They describe how everyone is treated equally and that discrimination is not tolerated.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
In most subjects, the ambitious curriculum is delivered well. The school has thought carefully about the knowledge and skills that pupils need and how they learn. Teachers usually use this information to plan and teach stimulating lessons that build on what pupils have previously learned. This is particularly the case in the core subjects. Staff have strong subject knowledge. They usually adopt the 'no opt-out' policy to check pupils' understanding and ensure that they keep up in lessons. Pupils' positive attitudes to learning lead to a purposeful atmosphere in most lessons. However, teachers' expectations are sometimes less clear, and lesson time is not always used productively. When this occurs, pupils develop gaps in their learning, and lessons are occasionally disrupted.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2015 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
About
The Hurst School, previously The Hurst Community College, is a state secondary school in the village of Baughurst, in the county of Hampshire in England. Jayne McLaren is the headteacher.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
15.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
212 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.37 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 46.3 to 45.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 46% to 41% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 45.7 | 41.1% |
| Disadvantaged(40) | - | 32.1 | 7.5% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(150) | - | 49.4 | 50% |
| Boys(90) | - | 42.5 | 36.7% |
| Girls(100) | - | 48.6 | 45% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(183) | - | 46.2 | 41.5% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 7 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 201 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
171
Suspensions
16.86%
Suspension rate
82 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,014 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby secondary schools
Latest from The Hurst School
Celebration of Strong GCSE Results
20 Aug 2026
Sports Day is underway!
10 Jul 2026
Students raise money in memory of their friend
25 Jun 2026
Celebrations for Thank a Teacher and Support Staff Day
17 Jun 2026
Congratulation to athletics team for third placed finish at District Athletics event
15 Jun 2026
It's all about the Drama this week!
21 May 2026
From The Hurst School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Hurst School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Hurst School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Hurst School is in Hampshire; for families living there:
Apply to Hampshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at The Hurst School
Will you get a place at The Hurst School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Hurst School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Hurst School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Hurst School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Hampshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at The Hurst School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Hampshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
1,008 pupils
1,075 places
67 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Tadley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Tadley
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,392
Applications
13,874
Got 1st preference
90.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
107
SEN Support
38
EHC Plans
14.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,021
Total Pupils
521
Boys
500
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
69
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,967
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,698
Per pupil
£7067k
Total funding
£157k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.4%
Overall absence
20.7%
Persistent absence
1,034
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Hurst School
What are GCSE results like at The Hurst School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Hurst School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.7. 41% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Hurst School's Ofsted rating?
The Hurst School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Hurst School?
No fixed boundary. When The Hurst School is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Hurst School?
The Hurst School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 1075 places.
How big are the classes at The Hurst School?
Classes at The Hurst School average 22.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Hurst School?
The Hurst School has around 1021 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Hurst School?
7.4% of sessions were missed at The Hurst School in 2024/25. 20.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Hurst School?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Hurst School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near The Hurst School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Hurst School?
The Hurst School is at Brimpton Road, Baughurst, Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 5NL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)