Fearnhill's story stretches back to when Letchworth Garden City itself was still being pioneered. The school's origins as Letchworth Grammar School, established in 1903, evolved when it became a comprehensive in 1973 and relocated to its current Icknield Way site in 1976. Today, just north of the railway line to Cambridge, it serves approximately 600 students across ages 11 to 18 as part of the Letchworth Garden City Education Partnership.
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in September 2022, marking a significant recovery from a Requires Improvement rating in 2019. Mr Tim Spencer leads the school following his arrival in September 2023. Students here engage with a curriculum that blends traditional academic grounding with practical vocational options including BTEC National Diplomas. The Attainment 8 score of 41.2 sits slightly below the England average, whilst A-level results show 49% of students achieving grades A*-B, placing the school's sixth form in the solid middle range nationally (FindMySchool data).
Fearnhill presents itself as a purposeful, inclusive comprehensive where students from diverse backgrounds coexist in what the school describes as the "Fearnhill Family." The four houses named after Letchworth Garden City pioneers — Gorst, Howard, Pearsall, and Neville — create sub-communities within the wider school. Each house competes across the year in sports days and academic challenges, with students accumulating house points for effort, community service, and learning.
The school environment is described as calm and orderly. The 2022 Ofsted inspection noted that sixth form provision is a particular strength. Despite challenges around attendance and behaviour identified in earlier inspections, staff and student relationships appear positive. The new headteacher, Tim Spencer, brings 17 years of teaching experience and has prioritised learning the names of all 600 students, recognising the importance of belonging in school communities. The school's mission — Challenge, Excellence, and Cooperation — frames daily interactions.
Pastoral care has been strengthened. Extended tutorials, drop-down days, and assemblies build spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. The school council and student voice initiatives give pupils genuine agency, with examples including redesigning the behaviour ladder and developing a mental health app for peers.
In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.2, compared to the England average of 45.9. This places the school in the middle ranges nationally. The Progress 8 score of -0.14 indicates that pupils make slightly below-average progress from their key stage 2 starting points, though this figure reflects the school's demographics and catchment rather than a weakness in teaching itself.
The proportion of pupils achieving grades 5 and above in English and mathematics GCSEs — the key measure for many employers and universities — was 30%, well below both the local authority average (54%) and the England average (46%). This is an area the school acknowledges and is working to improve through targeted support for disadvantaged pupils and enhanced assessment practices.
Fearnhill ranks 2,722nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it within the middle 60% of schools in England. Locally, the school ranks 3rd among Letchworth secondary schools. These results reflect a comprehensive intake across the full ability range with no selection process.
The sixth form, which opens its doors to external students post-16, shows more encouraging patterns. In 2024, 49% of A-level entries achieved grades A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. This suggests that students entering the sixth form programme benefit from focused teaching and a smaller, more supportive environment.
The school offers 28 A-level subjects and extended qualifications including BTEC and the Extended Project Qualification, ensuring flexibility for different student aspirations. Recent A-level results in 2022 were described as the school's best on record.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
48.57%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
Teaching approaches emphasise personalised learning pathways. The curriculum integrates academic study with vocational options, recognising that not all students follow the traditional A-level route. For students entering Year 7, literacy support has been particularly effective. The Year 7 Catch-up Premium funding supports pupils through small-group intensive English teaching, resulting in exceptional progress in literacy development.
Subject specialists deliver across the core subjects. English, mathematics, science, humanities, and modern foreign languages are taught separately at key stage 3. Art, computing, design and nutrition, and physical education enrich the offer. PSHE and RSHE cover personal development themes including relationships, health, and careers.
Drama forms a dynamic part of curriculum provision. Students study dramatic techniques across year groups, learning through topics such as mime, verbatim theatre, civil rights, and Shakespeare. A weekly drama club complements curriculum work, and whole-school productions are annual highlights, with recent shows including Oliver, Back to the 80s, The Addams Family, and School of Rock.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
In 2024, 50% of GCSE leavers progressed to university, 8% entered apprenticeships, 36% entered employment, and further education accounted for the remainder. The school provides systematic careers guidance from key stage 3 onwards. All pupils undertake a Year 10 work experience placement, building real-world awareness of employment pathways.
The sixth form admits students both internally and externally based on GCSE achievement. External recruitment broadens the cohort and supports community accessibility. In the 2023-24 cohort, 50% of leavers progressed to university, with some continuing to apprenticeships or employment. The school reports that students regularly progress to Russell Group institutions including Oxford and Cambridge, though specific numbers are not published on the school's website. The sixth form provides support through small classes and personalised guidance to ensure students make informed choices about university applications or alternative routes.
Extracurricular life at Fearnhill balances breadth with genuine depth. The school aims for every student to participate in at least one club, recognising the confidence-building and social development these provide.
Fearnhill Wind Band, Fearnhill Choir, and Ukulele Club form the school's core ensemble provision. A newer offering, Fearnhill Rocks, welcomes students playing pop and rock instruments — guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards — expanding the musical palette beyond traditional classical groups. Students can book practice rooms during break and lunch to rehearse independently, supporting self-directed learning.
Music permeates school life beyond ensemble participation. Funded instrumental lessons support GCSE music students, with the school covering lesson costs. The yearly Christmas concert and community performances at events such as the Letchworth Christmas Lights switch-on embed music within the local fabric. West End musicals and theatre visits expose students to professional performance, broadening cultural horizons.
The drama programme extends from curriculum learning to production. A fortnightly drama club offers Year 7 through Year 11 students an outlet for performance, technique development, and collaboration. Whole-school productions involve dozens of students — actors, musicians, technical crews, costume designers — in ambitious shows. Recent productions demonstrate the range: Oliver, with its 19th-century orphanage ensemble work; Back to the 80s, celebrating popular nostalgia; The Addams Family, balancing comedy and Gothic atmosphere; and School of Rock, a contemporary musical showcase.
Students across all year groups compete in football, netball, rugby, hockey, basketball, rounders, cricket, athletics, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, indoor athletics, and cross-country. District successes include recent badminton championships and football achievements.
Project Rugby, delivered in partnership with Saracens Foundation, has proven transformative. Previously, rugby engagement was minimal; the partnership has built pathways to local clubs and created a positive entry point for students with no prior experience. This illustrates how specialist partnerships can expand sporting culture.
The school publishes a current extracurricular roster including subject-based clubs from science, computing, modern languages, and humanities departments. Student leadership is developed through the school council and peer support schemes. A Dissection Society, named in school materials, supports students with medical and scientific interests.
The Fearnfile, a fortnightly magazine written and edited by students for students, captures school community news, event coverage, and pupil voices. This student-led publication builds communication skills and peer investment in school life.
Computing is offered as both a GCSE and A-level subject. Computer science provision includes coding and digital thinking alongside more applied, industry-facing applications. The school's Maths and Computing specialism (a legacy designation) reflects subject strength, though provision now spans all of STEM.
Fearnhill operates non-selective admissions. Reception of Year 7 applications follows Hertfordshire's coordinated admissions process. In 2024, the Year 7 entry received 2.69 applications per place (293 applications for approximately 109 places in the previous recorded cohort), indicating oversubscription. Allocation follows the standard sequence: looked-after children, siblings, and then proximity to school address.
The Letchworth area has limited secondary choice; Fearnhill and Highfield School serve much of the town. Families using the FindMySchoolMap Search tool can verify their precise distance from the school gates relative to last distance offered in previous years, though distances vary annually based on applicant distribution and proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.
The school's priority area encompasses Letchworth parishes. The school works with Highfield School through the Letchworth Garden City Education Partnership, sharing sixth form provision and resources.
Applications
293
Total received
Places Offered
109
Subscription Rate
2.7x
Apps per place
The 2022 Ofsted inspection affirmed that pupils feel safe and trust staff. Safeguarding procedures are effective, with clear systems for raising and responding to concerns. Staff receive regular training on safeguarding, including Prevent duty awareness.
Mental health support has grown. The student-developed mental health app signposts peers to available support. Careers guidance is universal and thorough, beginning in key stage 3 and extending into sixth form. Work experience in Year 10, careers interviews, and connections with further and higher education providers prepare students for post-school transitions.
Support for students with SEND exists within mainstream provision. The school works with the North Hertfordshire Educational Support Centre for pupils who require additional help, monitoring their welfare and progress whilst enabling attendance at mainstream settings. Teaching staff adapt lessons for diverse learners, though the 2019 Ofsted inspection identified this as an area for improvement in some classes.
School hours operate from 8:50am to 3:20pm. The school is situated on Icknield Way, just north of the railway line connecting Letchworth to Baldock and Cambridge. Transport links include local bus services; the main Letchworth Railway Station sits approximately 2 miles to the south, accessible by bus or on foot.
Uniform requirements apply throughout Years 7–11. Sixth form students follow a dress code emphasising professional appearance. School meals are available; prices are not specified on the website — families should contact the school directly for meal costs and free school meal eligibility information, particularly given that 36–37% of pupils are eligible for pupil premium funding, a measure of deprivation.
The school is state-funded and has no tuition fees.
Attainment gaps require attention. The school's GCSE pass rate (grade 5+ in English and maths) of 30% sits below local and national averages, and Progress 8 is slightly negative. For families prioritising strong examination outcomes in core subjects, this is an honest context. The school acknowledges these areas and is implementing support; families considering entry should discuss specific support available for their child's learning needs.
Comprehensive intake means variable peer group. Unlike selective schools, Fearnhill serves the full ability range. This enriches social integration and inclusivity but means teaching must meet diverse needs simultaneously. Students expecting a highly academically accelerated environment alongside high-attaining peers may find the pace and cohort mix different.
Sixth form attracts external students. The relatively open sixth form, accepting pupils based on GCSE grades rather than school history, means new social dynamics at Year 12. For pupils staying through, this brings fresh perspectives; for those leaving and returning elsewhere, new dynamics emerge. This is neither strength nor weakness, simply a structural feature to understand.
Oversubscribed admissions. With 2.69 applications per place, entry is competitive. Families within the priority area are favoured, but living outside it makes admission uncertain. Early verification of distance and realistic assessment of chances — via FindMySchool tools or direct school contact — is wise.
Fearnhill is a comprehensive secondary serving its Letchworth community with genuine commitment to inclusion, student voice, and breadth of opportunity. It is not an elite academic engine, but rather a school working steadily to improve outcomes for all pupils, particularly the disadvantaged and those with additional needs. The 2022 Good Ofsted rating marks genuine recovery from earlier challenges; the appointment of a new headteacher prioritising connection and culture signals sustained investment in improvement.
Extracurricular provision — music ensembles, drama, sports, and clubs — creates genuine belonging and skill development. The sixth form offers a genuine alternative pathway with vocational options and a smaller, more supportive environment for those ready for post-16 study.
Best suited to families in the Letchworth area seeking a non-selective, inclusive secondary where their child will be known and supported within a school community. Most appropriate for students who thrive with personalised attention, structured pastoral care, and broad extracurricular opportunity rather than highly competitive academic setting. Worth serious consideration for those prioritising safeguarding, well-being, and character development alongside examination outcomes.
Fearnhill was rated Good by Ofsted in September 2022, marking significant improvement from a Requires Improvement rating three years earlier. The school's sixth form is identified as a particular strength. Extracurricular provision is extensive and well-attended. However, GCSE pass rates (30% achieving grades 5+) and Progress 8 scores are below national averages, indicating mixed outcomes at age 16. The school is working to improve these through targeted support for disadvantaged pupils and enhanced teaching. Overall, it is a solid, inclusive comprehensive with committed leadership and genuine pastoral strength, though academic attainment requires continued focus.
Fearnhill is a state school with no tuition fees. There are no charges for educational provision. However, families may incur costs for uniform, meals, school trips, and optional music lessons. The school provides state-funded education to all pupils aged 11–18 regardless of background.
Year 7 entry is oversubscribed, with approximately 2.69 applications per available place in recent admissions. Allocation is non-selective and follows Hertfordshire's coordinated process: priority goes to looked-after children, siblings, and then pupils living closest to the school. Families in the Letchworth priority area have better chances. Those outside it should verify their distance early, as proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution.
Students can participate in football, netball, rugby, hockey, basketball, rounders, cricket, athletics, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, indoor athletics, and cross-country. Specialist provision includes Project Rugby in partnership with Saracens Foundation. Beyond sport, clubs span music (Fearnhill Wind Band, Choir, Ukulele), drama (weekly club plus whole-school productions), STEM, and subject-specific societies. The school aims for every student to join at least one club. Project Rugby has significantly increased rugby engagement among students with no prior experience.
Music is a vibrant part of school life. The Fearnhill Wind Band, Fearnhill Choir, and Ukulele Club form core ensembles. Fearnhill Rocks welcomes pop and rock musicians. GCSE music students receive school-funded instrumental lessons. An annual Christmas concert and Christmas lights community performance embed music in local events. The music department contributes significantly to whole-school productions including Oliver, Back to the 80s, The Addams Family, and School of Rock. Beyond performance, students can book practice rooms at break and lunch.
The sixth form is open to internal Year 11 students and external applicants meeting GCSE requirements. Twenty-eight A-level subjects are offered alongside BTEC courses and the Extended Project Qualification. Sixth formers follow a dress code rather than uniform. Entry is based on GCSE results, not prior school attendance, which brings a mix of students to the year group. Ofsted noted sixth form provision as a strength. A-level results show 49% achieving grades A*-B, matching the England average. Sixth form students progress to universities, apprenticeships, and employment; the school reports alumni progressing to Russell Group institutions.
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