Loreto College
St Albans, AL1 3RQ · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th 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 — 8.3/10 against 734 of them, against 8.7/10 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 | 61.6 · 83 | 46% | 3.84 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.71 · 91 | 38% | 3.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 56.2 · 87 | 15% | 1.34 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Loreto College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 59.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 58.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.71 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better 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 8.1 out of 10 among them, against 8.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 952 pupils against a stated capacity of 927. 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 does the admissions process work for new entrants given the current roll?
What Ofsted said about Loreto College
Overview
Loreto College is described as a school where pupils are “exceptionally well supported to succeed” within an ethos valuing “freedom, sincerity, truth, justice and joy”. The report highlights an “ambitious curriculum” and strong staff-pupil relationships that foster a culture of tolerance, inclusion, and high academic achievement.
Strengths
- Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make “exceptional academic progress” due to teachers’ “excellent knowledge” and precise identification of learning needs.
- Behaviour is exemplary; classrooms are “calm and focused”, bullying is “rare”, and pupils conduct themselves well, demonstrating respect and curiosity.
- Reading is prioritised effectively, with early intervention ensuring pupils “catch up quickly” and access the full curriculum.
- Personal development is comprehensive, featuring a careers programme from Year 7, extensive extra-curricular activities, and opportunities for pupils to act as “engaged and active citizens”.
- Staff well-being is carefully considered, with leaders maintaining an “open-door policy” and providing high-quality professional development.
Areas to improve
- Routines and expectations in the sixth form “do not always match those of the rest of the school”, resulting in some students not achieving as highly as they could. Leaders must ensure all staff have the “highest ambition” for sixth-form outcomes.
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 | 59.4 |
| 2024/25 | 58.3 |
| 2025/26 | 56.2 |
| 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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