Hitchin Boys' School
Hitchin, SG5 1JB · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
18th 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 376 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.1/10 among them, against 8.7/10 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 | 87 | 35% | 3.06 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 65.2 · 87 | 30% | 2.61 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.57 · 87 | 25% | 2.17 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 56.8 · 88 | 10% | 0.88 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hitchin Boys' School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 66.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 stood at 57.1, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.57 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted inspected in November 2025 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.3 out of 10 among them, against 8.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access a Homework Club and an after-school club. Activities include the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise, Robot Rumble, and Quadcopter Challenge. Sports cover football, hockey, rugby, cricket, basketball, badminton, pickleball, and table tennis. Arts and music offer ballet, contemporary dance, cheerleading, circus skills, art club, instrumental lessons, and drama. Trips include skiing, foreign exchanges, geography field trips, MFL trips, art gallery visits, and D&T industry visits.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,364 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,400. 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 maintain progress from their starting points? What specific support is available during the Homework Club? How are places allocated for the next entry year?
What Ofsted said about Hitchin Boys' School
Overview
The inspection describes an exceptional school where pupils thrive in a highly inclusive and supportive environment. Leaders demonstrate meticulous care for all students, particularly the vulnerable, fostering a strong sense of belonging and exemplary behaviour.
Strengths
- Attendance is "consistently well above the national average" with "low levels of persistent absenteeism" across all pupil groups.
- Inclusion is "exceptional," with "precise systems" ensuring early identification of needs and high-quality support, including the ‘launch pad’ provision.
- Staff are "exceptionally skilled" and benefit from an "excellent professional learning programme" that builds expertise in meeting individual pupil needs.
- The curriculum is "high quality and ambitious," resulting in pupils who "achieve extremely well" and are "very well equipped for their next steps."
- Personal development is outstanding, with a "diverse extra-curricular offer" that creates "fully rounded young men" and strong leadership skills.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 56.3 |
| 2024/25 | 57.1 |
| 2025/26 | 56.8 |
| 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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