Watford Grammar School for Girls, Watford

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Watford Grammar School for Girls. I am honoured to lead this outstanding school, that has attracted talented and energetic staff and an engaged Trustee body. Our rich academic curriculum, our strong and supportive pastoral care, wide range of extended activities are designed to educate, encourage and empower our girls."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, hockey, tennis, gymnastics, badminton, swimming, dance, drama and choir.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and an open evening on Thursday 1 July 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Watford Grammar School for Girls averaged an Attainment 8 score of 65.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

80% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 68.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.74: 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.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 44.2, against 67.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 23.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

For September 2026 entry, 359 families put Watford Grammar School for Girls as their first choice and 817 named it as one of their preferences, for 203 places offered. That is 1.8 first choices for every place. 191 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Watford Grammar School for Girls are Watford Grammar School for Boys (0.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 66.3); Westfield Academy (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); The Grange Academy (1.3 miles, Attainment 8 48.2); and Queens' School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56.2).

Watford Grammar School for Girls's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Of the 209 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college and 1% into work.

Of the 196 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 78% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 9% into work. 46% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

6.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 32.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (63%), White British (12%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 60 pupils (4.2%) received SEN support and 15 (1.1%) 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 Watford High Street Rail Station, about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wiggenhall Road (near), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 694 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, Watford Grammar School for Girls issued 53 suspensions, 3.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Watford Grammar School for Girls are Chater Junior School (0.2 miles), Watford Field School (Infant & Nursery) (0.3 miles), Field Junior School (0.3 miles) and Central Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.