Bushey Meads School
Bushey, WD23 4PA · Hertfordshire · secondary school
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67th of 78 secondary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 82 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 923 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.3/10 among them, against 3.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 43.3 · 45 | 46% | 2.10 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.45 · 18 | 38% | 0.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.5 · 32 | 15% | 0.48 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bushey Meads School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.45 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.0 out of 10 among them, against 3.2 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access Duke of Edinburgh, History, Science, Debate, and Tech clubs, plus Choir and Orchestra. Sports include paintballing, karting, rock climbing, boxing, day sailing, and BMX biking. Arts and music cover dance, baking, and creative writing. Trips visit Kidzania, Oxford, Cambridge, ski resorts, Flanders Trenches, and Poland. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,200 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,300. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How are the 100 spare
What Ofsted said about Bushey Meads School
Overview
The inspection found that the quality of education, behaviour, and leadership all ‘require improvement’, while personal development and sixth-form provision are rated ‘good’. The report notes that ‘the quality of education has declined’ since the previous inspection, largely due to high staff turnover and inconsistent curriculum delivery. Consequently, some pupils ‘do not fulfil their potential’, although leaders are beginning to stabilise staffing and address these issues.
Strengths
- The sixth-form curriculum is ‘working well’, with students achieving well and being ‘prepared well for the future’.
- Personal development is a strength, featuring an ‘appropriate careers programme’ and improved support for health and relationships.
- Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, with bullying dealt with effectively and prejudicial language not tolerated.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in ‘The Laurel’ provision is ‘effective’ and bespoke.
- Pupils are described as ‘confident, articulate individuals’ who take pride in leadership opportunities and school clubs.
Areas to improve
- Implement the behaviour system ‘consistently well’ to stop poor behaviour from disrupting learning.
- Establish an effective strategy to improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils, which remains ‘persistently absent’.
- Ensure staff have the support to ‘consistently implement the curriculum well’, including better checks on pupils’ knowledge.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.1 |
| 2024/25 | 43.6 |
| 2025/26 | 42.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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