Westfield Academy
Watford, WD18 6NS · Hertfordshire · secondary school
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48th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.0/10 against 883 of them, against 5.1/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.9 · 55 | 46% | 2.55 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.03 · 48 | 38% | 1.85 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.5 · 47 | 15% | 0.72 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Westfield Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.4, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.03 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a Football Academy, a Basketball Academy, a summer musical festival, and end-of-term trips for Years 7 to 10.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,331 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,600. 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 gap between their current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students who are not progressing as expected? How are the sports academies integrated into the regular timetable?
What Ofsted said about Westfield Academy
Overview
Westfield Academy is described as an inclusive school where staff help pupils to ‘believe, strive and achieve’. Leaders have maintained high standards since the previous inspection, ensuring pupils access an ambitious curriculum with a well-considered mix of academic and vocational subjects. The school continues to improve, with leaders acting with determination to put pupils at the centre of their work.
Strengths
- The ‘well-designed curriculum’ gives pupils access to ambitious qualifications, including a high number accessing the English Baccalaureate.
- Staff successfully use the ‘Westfield Way’ teaching approach, ensuring pupils get plenty of practice and support to build on what they have learned.
- ‘Highly effective careers advice’ guides and motivates sixth-form students to ‘aim high’, leading to ambitious destinations in work or further study.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are ‘fully included in school life’ and many progress well with their learning.
- ‘High-quality emotional and well-being support’ is in place, and pupils trust adults to look after them.
Areas to improve
- The school should ensure that all staff use assessment effectively so that any gaps in knowledge are spotted promptly and addressed.
- Programmes to support pupils with their reading must be implemented well so that pupils have the necessary skills to access the full curriculum.
- The school should ensure that all staff know and understand the procedures to address poor behaviour and use these consistently and fairly.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 41.4 |
| 2025/26 | 45.5 |
| 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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