The Adeyfield Academy Review 2026: A structured, inclusive secondary with a growing post-16 offer

Clear routines, a strong focus on behaviour and a deliberately inclusive ethos shape day-to-day life at The Adeyfield Academy. This is a non-selective 11 to 18 academy in Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead, and part of Ambition Education Trust, with an on-site sixth form and a broad extra-curricular menu that includes academic enrichment alongside sport and the arts.

Leadership stability is a notable feature. Dawn Mason has been headteacher since 2018, and the school’s vision is framed as Learning Without Limits, supported by a clear values set: Ambition, Respect, Courage, Dignity, Compassion.

On outcomes, the current picture is mixed and should be read alongside the school’s improvement narrative. At GCSE, Adeyfield sits below England average in FindMySchool’s data-driven benchmarking, and the Progress 8 figure is negative. Post-16 outcomes also sit below England averages on the A level measures provided. For families, that creates a straightforward question to explore on a visit: what has changed recently in curriculum, teaching and attendance, and how is impact being measured year by year?

The school’s public-facing emphasis is on expectations and belonging, and the latest formal evidence supports that. Pupils are described as well known and well cared for by staff, with high expectations for behaviour, courtesy and personal presentation, applied consistently. Bullying concerns raised by pupils are reported as addressed quickly and effectively, and pupils are said to have a named trusted adult they can approach.

Values are not presented as abstract branding. The school explicitly defines what Ambition, Respect, Courage, Dignity and Compassion mean in practice, which makes it easier for families to test alignment, particularly if a child does best in a structured environment with predictable routines.

A distinctive element here is the balance between inclusion and stretch. Alongside targeted support for students who need it, the school runs a Scholars Programme intended to extend engagement and attainment for higher-ability students, with subject- and year-group tasks and an explicit focus on critical thinking and raising aspirations.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (10 and 11 January 2023, published 03 March 2023) judged the school to be Good, including sixth form provision.

For GCSE outcomes, the FindMySchool ranking places Adeyfield at 3,747th in England and 7th in Hemel Hempstead (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This sits in the below-England-average band, meaning performance is in the lower end of the national distribution. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 29.2, and Progress 8 is -0.97.

EBacc indicators suggest that the academic EBacc pathway is not a dominant route for many students: 4% achieved grades 5 or above in the EBacc measure provided, and the average EBacc APS is 2.57 against an England comparator of 4.08.

In sixth form, the FindMySchool ranking places Adeyfield at 1,996th in England and 4th in Hemel Hempstead for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). A level grades show 30% at A* to B, compared with an England comparator of 47.2% for A* to B; 6.67% at A* and 3.33% at A are also below the England comparator for A* to A (23.6%).

The headline for parents is not just where the numbers sit, but what they imply about fit. Students who thrive with consistent routines, strong pastoral scaffolding and well-structured teaching may do well here, especially if they make full use of study support. Students who need a very high-attaining peer group across the board may want to compare options locally, using FindMySchool’s Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view outcomes side-by-side.

The inspection evidence points to a curriculum designed with sequence and coverage in mind, aligned to national expectations, and delivered with consistent classroom routines. That matters for learning because it reduces variability between subjects and teachers, and helps students build knowledge in a coherent order. The same source notes knowledgeable teaching and regular checking of vocabulary and conceptual understanding, with an area to strengthen around feedback so that students understand how to improve the quality of their work, not only complete tasks.

Support for reading is a visible strand. The Learning Resource Centre is open from 8.15am to 4.30pm and includes student leadership roles as Library Leaders, and the wider home learning approach explicitly references after-school study support.

For higher-attaining students, the Scholars Programme provides an additional academic track that can be used to deepen subject interest and build the habits needed for stronger outcomes later on.

Where Students Go Next

Adeyfield’s sixth form positions itself as inclusive and mixed, offering A levels and Level 3 BTEC pathways, with explicit preparation for university, apprenticeships or employment.

On destinations, the most recent published DfE leaver destinations data in the supplied dataset is for the 2023 to 2024 cohort (24 students). Of that cohort, 50% progressed to university, 13% to apprenticeships, 8% to further education, and 21% to employment.

The practical implication is choice. This sixth form can suit students who want to keep options open across academic and vocational routes, with a local setting and access to leadership opportunities, but families should look closely at subject availability, group sizes and how progression support works in practice for the route their child wants to take.

Year 7 admission is coordinated through Hertfordshire County Council’s secondary transfer process. For September 2026 entry, the application window opened on 1 September 2025 and the deadline was 31 October 2025, with national allocation day on 2 March 2026. Hertfordshire also publishes key dates for late applications, continuing interest and appeals.

The school is non-selective, admitting at 11 plus without reference to ability or aptitude. The published admission number (PAN) for Year 7 is stated as 180 for September 2025; families should check the determined arrangements for the specific entry year they are applying for.

Sixth form applications are made directly to the school using its digital application route. Entry requirements are set out clearly: for A levels, at least 40 GCSE points from best 8 GCSEs; for BTEC routes, at least 36 points; a mixed academic and vocational programme also uses the 36-point threshold.

For planning, FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful for comparing commute practicality across realistic alternatives, particularly because waiting list movement and allocation patterns can vary year to year and are not something families can safely assume in advance.

Pastoral structures are presented as explicit and accessible. The inspection evidence emphasises that pupils know who to go to for help, and that staff apply behaviour expectations consistently, which tends to matter most for students who can be unsettled by ambiguity.

Attendance and persistent absence are highlighted as an area where improvement has been made but further gains are expected, and families of students who struggle with attendance should ask what early intervention looks like, how attendance is monitored and what support is offered to remove barriers.

For students with additional needs, the school describes a set of supports and interventions that include breakfast provision, targeted clubs and in-school academic interventions, alongside a SENCo role on the leadership list.

The extra-curricular offer is presented as broad, with specific named options that help it feel tangible rather than generic. For academic and creative enrichment, the Year 7 transition information references a computing skills club, eco-club, spelling club, STEM and film club, alongside ensembles, a vocal group and arts clubs.

The Learning Resource Centre is positioned as an after-school hub, with Home Learning Hub support and student-led activity such as Library Leaders, plus opportunities for structured study sessions across departments.

For character and personal development, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is explicitly offered, and the school also highlights a range of sport and activity clubs, including options such as boxing, cheerleading and cookery club.

The practical implication is that students who engage in structured enrichment can build routines, friendships and confidence beyond lessons. Families should ask how participation is encouraged for quieter students, and whether targeted support exists to help them join in.

Students are expected to be in school from 8.30am to 3.00pm each day, and the student gate opens from 8.20am. Breakfast club entry is from 8.00am, with expectations about where students remain until the day starts.

The Learning Resource Centre runs beyond the core day, open from 8.15am to 4.30pm, and clubs are described as operating after school between 3.10pm and 4.15pm.

For travel, the school sits within the Adeyfield area of Hemel Hempstead; families typically consider walking, cycling and local bus routes alongside rail connections into Hemel Hempstead for wider commuting. For current routes and safe travel options, check Hertfordshire travel guidance and local operator updates before relying on a particular service pattern.

• Outcomes are currently below England benchmarks. The FindMySchool GCSE and A level rankings sit in the lower end of the national distribution, and Progress 8 is negative. Families should ask what specific changes have been made since 2023, and what the school expects the next set of published outcomes to show.

• Attendance remains a live improvement priority. Attendance has improved, but persistent absence is still highlighted as a focus area. This matters most for students who need strong routines to stay engaged.

• EBacc participation and outcomes look limited on the published measures. If languages and the full academic EBacc route matter to your child, ask about current uptake, subject staffing and how students are guided through options in Key Stage 4.

• Admissions timing is strict for Year 7, and sixth form deadlines are school-set. For September 2026 entry, the Hertfordshire deadline was 31 October 2025 and allocation was 2 March 2026, while the sixth form timeline indicates a December deadline and January interviews. If you are late to the cycle, ask promptly about waiting lists and next steps.

The Adeyfield Academy suits families looking for an inclusive, non-selective local secondary where expectations for behaviour and routines are clear, enrichment is visible, and sixth form offers both academic and vocational routes. It can work well for students who benefit from structure and who will use study support and enrichment to build momentum. The main question to explore is academic trajectory, GCSE and post-16 outcomes sit below England comparators in the data provided, so families should probe how teaching quality, feedback and attendance work are translating into measurable improvement.