The Sele School
Hertford, SG14 2DG · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
73rd 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 — 1.8/10 against 719 of them, against 1.8/10 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 | 28.0 · 12 | 46% | 0.55 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.26 · 30 | 38% | 1.17 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 35.1 · 5 | 15% | 0.08 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Sele School overview
How it's doing
Attainment 8 stood at 35.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.26 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 (1.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Rounders, Cricket, Rugby, Football, Netball, Tennis, and Dodgeball clubs. Sports include Acrobatic Dance, Street Dance, Athletics, and House competitions in Rugby, Football, Netball, Volleyball, and Orienteering. Arts and music options cover House Music, Photography, Bake off, and Aerial hoop workshops. Trips include ski trips and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 382 pupils against a stated capacity of 699. 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
What Ofsted said about The Sele School
Overview
The Sele School is described as a "welcoming, nurturing and inclusive place" where pupils feel valued and happy. The report highlights that the school has improved significantly since its previous inspection, with pupils’ achievement rising and staff working collaboratively to deliver a consistent curriculum.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "thoughtfully constructed" and has been broadened, including the addition of French, to better prepare pupils for future studies and employment.
- Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they access the full curriculum through appropriate adaptations.
- Teachers "carefully check on pupils’ learning" to quickly address knowledge gaps, while early identification helps struggling readers gain confidence.
- Pupils behave well in "calm and orderly classrooms," demonstrating respect for peers and a strong sense of community.
- The sixth form provides individualised support, helping students move "quickly and confidently" through their studies with useful guidance for next steps.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure strategies to reduce persistent absence are effective, as high absence levels cause some pupils to miss out on learning and limit achievement.
- Teachers should ensure pupils move on to "learning new, more complex knowledge as soon as they are ready," as some currently find work too easy and progress slowly.
- The trust needs to fill vacant positions on the board of trustees to ensure it has the necessary expertise to set strategic direction and check performance.
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 | 41.3 |
| 2024/25 | 35.7 |
| 2025/26 | 35.1 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of SG14 2DG, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT