Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Borehamwood, WD6 5NN · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
78th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.1/10 against 852 of them, against 0.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 15.6 · 2 | 46% | 0.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.79 · 6 | 38% | 0.23 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 33.2 · 3 | 15% | 0.05 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Elstree Screen Arts Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 31.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.79, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6 out of 10 among them, against 1.4 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 524 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Elstree Screen Arts Academy
Overview
Pupils receive an “exceptional education” at this university technical college, where a specialised curriculum in the creative arts is delivered alongside essential core qualifications. The school has had a “transformative impact” on pupils’ confidence, with exemplary behaviour and a culture that celebrates difference. Leaders have established a clear strategic vision, resulting in demonstrable improvements in education quality and high achievement in specialist subjects.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ambitious and well-structured, with teachers using assessment effectively to prevent misconceptions and ensuring pupils develop a “deep understanding” of subjects.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access the same ambitious curriculum and achieve well due to effective, individualised support strategies.
- Partnerships with creative industry professionals are “impressive,” providing pupils with valuable employer engagement and preparing them well for life beyond school.
- Personal development is supported by the ‘we are ESA’ curriculum and the promotion of the ‘7Cs’, which is described as “exemplary” and widely adopted across the trust.
- Sixth-form provision is outstanding, with students enjoying school, attending regularly, and receiving high-quality careers guidance and support for university or apprenticeship applications.
Areas to improve
- Some pupils achieve less well in core subjects, though the school has implemented a recovery curriculum to address gaps in learning.
- Attendance continues to be a challenge for some pupils, despite rapid improvements for those with previously low rates.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.6 |
| 2024/25 | 39.1 |
| 2025/26 | 33.2 |
| 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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