Ashlyns School
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,561 pupils
94% stayed in education · Attainment 8 57.9
Academy converter
Hertswood Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,144of 1,861 places
- Free school meals
- 33.3%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 223
- Ofsted
- Inspected, 11 February 2025Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Hertswood School (URN 131971, until 1 September 2012).
What the data says
Of the 218 pupils who finished Year 11 at Hertswood Academy in 2023, 43% stayed on in Hertswood Academy’s own sixth form (Hertfordshire average 58%), 37% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 77 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 61% went to university (Hertfordshire 42%, England 37%), and 9% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were below the national picture: Attainment 8 of 38.3 against 46.1 across England and 50.6 in Hertfordshire, with 27% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Art and Design is unusually popular at GCSE: 23% of the year group took it, against 7% of pupils across England.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Hertfordshire and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Hertswood Academy | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 218 | 14,400 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 86% | 95% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 80% | 92% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 43% | 58% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | — | 2% | 13% |
| — further education college | 37% | 31% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 1% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 3% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 5% | 2% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Hertswood Academy | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 77 | 14,189 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 86% | 82% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 61% | 42% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 9% | 24% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 5% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 6% | 7% |
| Employment | 19% | 28% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 8% | 13% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Hertswood Academy | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 38.3 | 50.6 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 27% | 53% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 50% | 72% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 52% | 47% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.47 | 4.56 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 31% | 18% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 28.5 | 34.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 42.8 | 54.1 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 33% | 16% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 222 | 100% | 88% | 16% | 22% | 59% |
| English Language | 222 | 100% | 89% | 9% | 20% | 53% |
| English Literature | 216 | 97% | 86% | 9% | 21% | 51% |
| Combined Science | 175 | 78% | 65% | 2% | 9% | 39% |
| History | 108 | 48% | 41% | 8% | 26% | 48% |
| Citizenship Studies | 107 | 48% | 3% | 3% | 19% | 24% |
| Geography | 100 | 45% | 41% | 6% | 25% | 37% |
| Business Studies | 62 | 28% | 18% | 15% | 20% | 52% |
| French | 58 | 26% | 18% | 3% | 29% | 14% |
| Spanish | 51 | 23% | 19% | 6% | 27% | 39% |
| Art and Design | 51 | 23% | 7% | 14% | 24% | 73% |
| Biology | 47 | 21% | 23% | 43% | 45% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 47 | 21% | 23% | 30% | 47% | 98% |
| Physics | 47 | 21% | 23% | 38% | 46% | 98% |
| Psychology | 46 | 21% | 3% | 4% | 22% | 57% |
| Sociology | 30 | 13% | 4% | 13% | 21% | 60% |
| Physical Education | 22 | 10% | 11% | 5% | 24% | 36% |
| Design and Technology | 20 | 9% | 11% | 50% | 23% | 75% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 18 | 8% | 8% | 11% | 21% | 56% |
| Photography | 10 | 4% | 6% | 20% | 19% | 100% |
| Music | 10 | 4% | 5% | 0% | 33% | 30% |
| Drama | 9 | 4% | 7% | 0% | 27% | 67% |
| Portuguese | 3 | 1% | 0% | — | 50% | — |
| Urdu | 3 | 1% | 1% | — | 42% | — |
| Persian | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 77% | — |
| Polish | 2 | 1% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
| Arabic | 2 | 1% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
| Russian | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
| Turkish | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 71% | — |
| Modern Greek | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 33% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 47 | 69% | — |
| Small Business Management | 26 | 38% | — |
| Health Studies | 24 | 35% | — |
| Sports Studies | 14 | 21% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Hertswood Academy | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 196 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 68 | 8,082 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 34.04 | 36.82 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 10% | 19% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 27 | 40% | 31% |
| Psychology | 18 | 26% | 23% |
| Art and Design | 16 | 24% | 1% |
| Biology | 15 | 22% | 20% |
| Photography | 13 | 19% | 3% |
| Business Studies | 13 | 19% | 13% |
| Physics | 12 | 18% | 12% |
| History | 12 | 18% | 13% |
| Further Mathematics | 9 | 13% | 5% |
| Sociology | 7 | 10% | 13% |
| Politics | 6 | 9% | 6% |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | 9% | 2% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 20 | 29% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 15 | 22% | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 19% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 12 | 18% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 12 | 18% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 12 | 18% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Music | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Music | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Hertfordshire
Barclay Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,044 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.5
Barnwell School
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,270 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.5
Beaumont School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,722 pupils
98% stayed in education · Attainment 8 62.6
Birchwood High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,417 pupils
85% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.1
Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School
Academy converter · sixth form · 942 pupils
97% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.9
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.