Dame Alice Owen's School
Potters Bar, EN6 2DU · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st 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 173 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.4/10 among them, against 9.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 91.4 · 96 | 30% | 2.89 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.92 · 96 | 25% | 2.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 73.6 · 98 | 10% | 0.98 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dame Alice Owen's School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2024. In 2024/25, 87.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 72.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.92 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.9 out of 10 among them, against 9.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh, Debating, Chess, and Art Clubs, or participate in football, hockey, rugby, and netball. An after-school club is available for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,467 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,416. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How accessible is the after-school club for families needing wraparound care?
What Ofsted said about Dame Alice Owen's School
Overview
Dame Alice Owen’s School is described as a “wonderful place to come to learn” where pupils from all backgrounds thrive. The report highlights an “ambitious” curriculum and “high aspirations” that enable pupils to achieve exceptionally well and become “independent and resilient individuals.”
Strengths
- The curriculum is “carefully planned,” “ambitious and challenging,” with teachers who are “highly skilled at adapting the learning to meet the needs of their pupils.”
- Behaviour is “exemplary,” with pupils showing “considerable enthusiasm for their learning” and a culture where it is “‘cool to do well here’.”
- Leaders prioritise reading fluency, ensuring “weakest readers receive the support that they need,” resulting in improved comprehension and confidence.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the “same ambitious curriculum as their peers” and “achieve highly.”
- The personal development programme is “extensive,” offering wide-ranging opportunities for leadership, community contribution, and careers education.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 73.5 |
| 2024/25 | 72.9 |
| 2025/26 | 73.6 |
| 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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