Simon Balle All-Through School
Hertford, SG13 8AJ · Hertfordshire · all-through 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 542 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.7/10 among them, against 8.5/10 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% | 3.28 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 63.8 · 86 | 30% | 2.59 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.45 · 82 | 25% | 2.04 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 55.4 · 86 | 10% | 0.86 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2024. In 2024/25, 63.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 55.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.45 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 5.7 out of 10 among them, against 8.5 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join clubs for chess, board games, art, and peer mentoring. Sports include running, while arts cover calligraphy and crochet. Trips visit Sheringham, Bawdsey Manor, battlefields, and West End theatres. An after-school club is available, but there is no breakfast club.
Getting in. The school has 1561 pupils in a capacity of 1037, meaning it is over capacity by 524. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the high demand for places given it is significantly over capacity? What specific support is offered to pupils to help them achieve the national average in similar-intake comparisons? How does the after-school club operate for families who need care after the school day ends?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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