Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School Review 2026: Top 15% Results with Outstanding Pastoral Care

When Hatfield Girls' Grammar School first opened in 1960, just over 200 girls walked through its doors. The school has since grown into a thriving academy of nearly 950 pupils stretching from Year 7 through to sixth form, where boys are now equally welcomed alongside girls. Set on Woods Avenue in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, the academy occupies a purpose-built modern campus designed to consolidate the entire school under one roof, featuring natural lighting, contemporary learning spaces and dramatic atriums that exemplify the school's investment in creating an inspiring environment.

The most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022 confirmed the school's Outstanding status, validating what pupils, parents and teachers know well: that Bishop's Hatfield operates at the highest standard. The school ranks 637th nationally for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top 15% of schools across England (FindMySchool ranking), with students regularly achieving grades 9-7 in over 40% of entries. At A-level, the school ranks 560th in England (FindMySchool ranking), putting it in the top 21% nationally. In 2024-25, 31% of A-level grades were A* or A, with 85% achieving A* to C, and the school proudly counts within its sixth form leavers those bound for Oxbridge and Russell Group universities including medicine and veterinary medicine courses.

Beyond academic metrics, Bishop's is distinguished by an exceptionally strong pastoral culture where girls genuinely flourish. Leadership opportunities are woven throughout school life, from Year 7 form councils to sixth form community service roles. The school operates on the Bishop's 360 philosophy, which encourages a comprehensive view of education encompassing academic ambition, sporting achievement, creative expression, and personal leadership. At drop-off or throughout the school day, visitors notice immediately the calm, respectful atmosphere, the engaged pupils moving purposefully between lessons, and a palpable sense that every girl belongs and is valued.

Pupils describe their school with passion. Teachers, by their own account, genuinely love to see students develop and grow. This sentiment isn't marketing language but a reflection of the school's ethos. Ofsted inspectors observed pupils speaking enthusiastically about the care and support extending well beyond academics, with bullying reported as very rare and swiftly addressed.

The school's founding as a girls' grammar school in 1960 has left a legacy of academic ambition, but the transition from grammar to comprehensive status around the mid-1970s widened access and transformed the school into an inclusive community. That evolution continues under the leadership of Headteacher Alf Wood, who has been in post since September 2020. Under his stewardship, the school has embraced modernity whilst maintaining high expectations for all. The recent building consolidation represents this philosophy perfectly: a light-filled, flexible campus designed around learner needs rather than traditional silos.

The school organises itself around five houses named after notable women: Austen, Franklin, Hadid, Parr, and Seacole. These names reflect the values of wisdom, ingenuity, bold design, courage and resilience respectively, with inter-house competitions providing both friendly rivalry and genuine belonging. Pupils take immense pride in their house identity and points. The behaviour of pupils is exemplary. From lessons to social time, the atmosphere remains calm, welcoming and respectful. Girls are encouraged to look out for one another and show sensitivity to differing feelings within the community.

Leadership opportunities abound and have meaningful impact. The Equality and Diversity group educates peers about microaggressions; Year 10 linguists volunteer to teach primary pupils languages; sixth form students carry out community service. Ofsted noted that these roles aren't tokenistic but deeply embedded in how the school functions, shaping both the culture and individual character development. The school operates with an open-door policy and staff availability that creates genuine trust between pupils and adults.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes at Bishop's Hatfield consistently exceed England averages. In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 56.7 against an England average of around 45.9. An Attainment 8 score of 56.7 represents strong performance, reflecting high achievement across the eight measured qualifications. The school's Progress 8 score of +0.38 indicates that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points compared to similar students nationally.

Breaking down GCSE grades more granularly: 40% of entries achieved grades 9 or 8 (the highest bands), 23% achieved grade 7, and across the top three grades (9, 8, 7), the school achieved 40% of all entries. This places the school in the top tier for GCSE performance. By the standard measure of grade 5 or above in English and mathematics (a strong pass), the school achieved 74%, well above the England average. English Baccalaureate performance (which requires good grades across English, mathematics, science, humanities and languages) showed 38% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above, compared to an England average of around 41%.

Ranked 637th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the school sits in the top 15% of secondary schools nationally and 2nd among secondaries in Hatfield. This ranking reflects consistent, high-achieving results across a broad intake, not a selective one.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form, which is co-educational and part of the Welwyn & Hatfield Consortium, produces particularly strong outcomes. In 2025, 31% of A-level grades were A* or A. Extending to the full A*-B range, 65% of grades fell into this top category. At A*-C, 85% of all grades achieved this standard, signifying rigorous instruction and high student commitment.

The school ranks 560th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 21% nationally. For context, 22 of the previous year's Year 13 students achieved two or more A*/A grades, and all students who applied to university secured places at their chosen destination. Notably, pupils who enter the sixth form with a range of abilities find genuine support: the school's entry criteria do not require top-tier GCSE grades, yet all students make significant progress. This inclusive admissions philosophy is rare at such a high-achieving sixth form.

The school is in the top 10% of state schools in Hertfordshire for A-level results by average grade, with most schools ranking above it being highly selective in their intake. Eight Cambridge acceptances were recorded in the measurement period, demonstrating consistent success at the country's most competitive university entrance point.

The school's ambitious, carefully planned curriculum stretches from Year 7 through to sixth form. Teachers have deep subject expertise and collaborate within their faculties to produce high-quality resources, which feeds into exceptional lesson quality and pupil achievement. Teaching is characterised by high expectations, clear structures and responsiveness to pupil need.

Teachers use assessment purposefully. In science, for instance, inspectors observed teachers posing carefully calibrated questions depending on pupil ability, immediately addressing misconceptions and connecting new learning to prior knowledge. Feedback to pupils is explicit and actionable. Pupils and students, particularly in the sixth form, report feeling clear about their progress and equipped with strategies to improve.

A strong reading culture underpins the school. Pupils read fluently because explicit instruction in reading strategies is embedded across subjects. Teachers model reading with expression and expect pupils to read aloud, providing scaffolding where needed. Pupils discuss literature with genuine enthusiasm; inspectors heard thoughtful conversations about character empathy in 'Of Mice and Men' and genre preferences in mystery versus fantasy. Less confident readers are quickly identified and receive high-quality intervention, enabling rapid improvement in reading fluency.

Pupils with SEND benefit from high-quality education. Their needs are identified swiftly and appropriate support is embedded. All staff have access to inclusion plans detailing individual needs, and staff are trained to make meaningful adaptations to teaching. This ensures pupils with SEND make excellent progress from their starting points.

Where Students Go Next

Bishop's Hatfield students progress to a broad range of universities and career pathways. The 2023-24 leaver cohort data shows that 74% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, 15% entered employment, 3% began apprenticeships, and the remainder pursued other pathways. Of those heading to university, all students who made applications secured places at one of their chosen institutions.

The school has built strong pathways to higher education, particularly to selective universities. Students have secured places on highly competitive courses including medicine, veterinary medicine, law, and humanities. Several students have successfully gained places on prestigious apprenticeship schemes, reflecting the school's commitment to broadening post-18 routes.

The sixth form operates within the Welwyn & Hatfield Consortium, a partnership of five schools offering students the chance to study subjects not available within Bishop's itself at consortium partner schools, creating flexibility and increasing the breadth of viable A-level options available.

The breadth of enrichment at Bishop's Hatfield is genuinely exceptional, with approximately 58 clubs offered across the year and dozens of named activities running termly. Ofsted identified the wider curriculum offer as outstanding, noting a large array of extremely popular clubs covering a wide range of skills and interests.

Music, Drama & Performing Arts

The Expressive Arts Faculty runs an annual Expressive Arts Showcase celebrating achievement across music, drama, visual art and graphics. Recent showcases have featured full-throttle choir performances, solo singers, orchestra, musicians, drama productions and musical theatre magic, alongside stunning GCSE artwork and AI-enhanced animations. The school supports learners across all levels, from beginners to advanced musicians, with small group and one-to-one tuition available in multiple instruments. Music ensembles include the school choir, full orchestra, and smaller chamber groups. Drama productions range from GCSE devised pieces to major theatrical productions staged in the school's dedicated drama studio.

Sports & Physical Activity

Sport is woven throughout school life. The four-court sports hall with its sprung floor features basketball nets and a central dividing net, accommodating multiple simultaneous activities. A dedicated dance and aerobics studio features two mirrored walls, sprung floor and ballet barre. Core sports include netball, basketball, athletics and badminton, with teams competing at local and county level. Additional activities include rowing, swimming, gymnastics, football and equestrian pursuits. A pupil competing in Artistic Swimming, for example, secured a silver medal at the National Championships, with the team achieving the highest score in the country across all categories and divisions.

Clubs & Societies

Named clubs mentioned in school publications and Ofsted include Chess Club (which runs inter-house competitions), Duke of Edinburgh's Award (running to Gold level), Netball (competitive teams), Crochet (craft-based enrichment), The Club That Shall Not Be Named (a mystery club sparking pupil enthusiasm), Young Enterprise Company (award-winning teams), Equality and Diversity group, and language support groups run by Year 10 linguists. The school reports 58 active clubs across the year, adjusting to 45 in spring term and 48 in summer term, covering everything from traditional academics (Maths Club, Debating Society) to creative pursuits (Art Clay Club, Seasonal Craft Club) to German Club and applied fields.

Facilities & Infrastructure

The school premises have been recently consolidated into a modern building featuring purpose-built art and design suites, dedicated music and ICT suites, a drama studio, dance studio and library. The sixth form benefits from its own café, study room and outdoor seating area with lawn. Chromebooks are available for borrowing during lessons or private study. The building, though only seven years old, is undergoing continuous investment to support the growing sixth form cohort. Purpose-built science facilities enable practical experiments and hands-on learning across biology, chemistry and physics.

Pastoral support is a defining strength. Each form has a dedicated form tutor, and Year groups are led by experienced Heads of Year who oversee both academic and pastoral matters. Sixth form students benefit from fortnightly tutorials with personal tutors who provide individual support with academic progress, pastoral matters and accessing wider opportunities. The Life Skills programme teaches pupils how to be safe, healthy and responsible citizens, with explicit teaching on risks including sexual harassment and online safety. Pupils receive specific guidance on managing mental health, with mindful movement and mindful colouring among the lunchtime options offered during the school's wellbeing focus.

The school is highly proactive about pupils who are young carers. In 2021, Bishop's Hatfield was awarded the Young Carers in Schools Bronze Award for ensuring young carers don't miss out on education because of caring responsibilities. All staff are informed of pupils with caring roles and provide appropriate support and flexibility.

Bullying is very rare and dealt with effectively when it occurs. The school's inclusive, respectful culture actively discourages bullying, and pupils report confidence that staff will intervene swiftly.

School day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm for main school pupils. There is a school library with extensive reference resources and IT desktops. No boarding is available. The school is located on Woods Avenue in Hatfield, with local transport links and nearby parking. As a state school, there are no tuition fees, though pupils may incur costs for uniform, school trips, music lessons and other optional extras.

Year 7 entry is non-selective, with the school operating as its own admitting authority. In recent cycles, the school has received approximately 495 applications for 149 places (3.3 to 1 ratio), making entry oversubscribed. Allocation follows the statutory order: looked-after children, children with an EHCP naming the school, siblings of pupils already at the school, and then by distance from the school gates (nearest first). There is no formal catchment boundary, but distance-based allocation means pupils typically live within the immediate vicinity of the school.

Sixth form is co-educational and welcomes applications from external candidates as well as internal progression. Places in Year 12 are allocated based on references, predicted grades and interview performance. The application window typically opens in December, with deadline around late January. Subject-specific entrance requirements vary and are published on the school website. The school is part of the Welwyn & Hatfield Consortium, allowing sixth formers to study subjects offered at partner schools if not available at Bishop's.

Open evenings and open days are held annually, typically in September. Parents should visit the school website for exact dates and booking information, or contact the school directly.

Oversubscription at entry: With approximately 3.3 applications for every place, securing a spot at Bishop's is competitive. Families living outside the immediate vicinity may not gain admission despite preference. Distance to the school gates is the primary determining factor, so proximity is essential if seeking entry at Year 7.

Building consolidation effects: The school completed a major building consolidation a few years ago, consolidating multiple sites into one modern campus. This has enhanced facilities but may be worth confirming as the school continues to invest and optimize spaces for its growing sixth form.

Boys in sixth form only: The main school is girls-only from Years 7-11. Boys are welcome in the sixth form, but younger siblings entering the main school would be separated by gender. Families seeking co-education throughout secondary should look elsewhere.

Sixth form as a second choice: Entry to sixth form requires reasonable predicted grades and an interview. Unlike the non-selective Year 7, sixth form entry is selective based on previous academic performance. Pupils who struggled at GCSE may face higher barriers to entry, even if internal.

Bishop's Hatfield is a high-achieving, genuinely inclusive community where girls (and sixth form boys) flourish academically and personally. Outstanding GCSE and A-level results reflect both rigorous teaching and pupils who engage wholeheartedly with their learning. The pastoral culture is a defining strength; pupils feel genuinely cared for and supported to develop as well-rounded individuals. Teachers are subject experts who adapt their teaching thoughtfully, and pupils experience school as calm, orderly and welcoming.

The school suits families within the immediate locality seeking a non-selective secondary with top-tier results, strong pastoral support and genuinely inclusive values. It is particularly well-suited to girls and boys in sixth form who thrive in an academically ambitious environment that balances rigour with genuine care. Best suited to those valuing both academic challenge and broader character development, and who can secure a place within the tight distance criterion.