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The Hereford Church of England Academy

Hereford, HR2 7NG · Herefordshire, County of · secondary school

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Ofsted: Requires improvement · 2024 Inspected 2 years ago Mixed Secondary Christian
1.0/10 Well below average

15th of 15 secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.

Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.8/10 against 540 of them, against 1.2/10 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
MeasurePercentileWeightAdds
Ofsted 5 35% 0.19
Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 30.2 · 16 30% 0.48
Progress 8 2023/24 -1.09 · 2 25% 0.05
Attainment 8 2025/26 41.5 · 26 10% 0.26

Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.

The Hereford Church of England Academy overview

How it's doing

In 2024/25, 25.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in March 2024.

Beyond the classroom

Pupils can join the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh, and an after-school club is available.

Getting in

The published school roll is 647 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 attainment gap identified in the 2024 inspection? What specific actions are being taken to improve Progress 8 scores? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider curriculum?

AI-assisted overview based on this school's published results, inspection record and official website. Sources and dates are shown throughout this page. Verify information that could change directly with the school.

What Ofsted said about The Hereford Church of England Academy

Inspection report dated 18 March 2024

Overview

The Hereford Academy is described as a "calm and welcoming place" where pupils enjoy a "warm and friendly culture." While leadership has stabilised and personal development is strong, the report states it is "too soon to see the full impact" of recent curriculum changes on educational quality.

Strengths

  • Pupils benefit from a "well-designed programme" for personal development, including effective careers and enrichment opportunities.
  • Behaviour is "Good," with pupils showing "compassion for each other" and bullying being dealt with "swiftly."
  • Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, allowing them to "successfully access the same curriculum as their peers."
  • Attendance rates have "improved rapidly" following a "measured and strategic approach."
  • Staff feel well-supported by leaders who "consider their workload carefully."

Areas to improve

  • Curriculum planning is "still in development" in some subjects, meaning learning does not always build effectively on pupils' starting points.
  • Teachers do not consistently use assessment strategies to "identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge and understanding."
  • Opportunities for pupils to read across the wider curriculum are not always taken, hindering the development of "confident and fluent" reading.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."

This is an AI-assisted summary of the official Ofsted report, not a statement written by Ofsted. Check the full official report before making a decision.
Progress 8
-1.09
2023/24
Attainment 8
41.5
2025/26
Demand
×0.91
1st prefs per place, 2026/27
Free school meals
39%
vs 30% across England

Results over time

Attainment 8, the years we hold.

33.5 2023/24
39.6 2024/25
41.5 2025/26
44.9 England
Attainment 8 for The Hereford Church of England Academy
YearAttainment 8
2023/2433.5
2024/2539.6
2025/2641.5
England44.9

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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