St Clement Danes School

St Clement Danes occupies a spacious site in Chorleywood, on the Hertfordshire-Buckinghamshire border, serving approximately 1,590 students aged 11 to 18. The school operates a distinctive admissions model, reserving 10% of places for academic ability and another 10% for musical aptitude, with the remainder allocated by distance. This semi-selective approach creates a mixed-ability intake with a strong academic core. The March 2024 Ofsted inspection awarded Outstanding across all categories, confirming what local families have long known: this is a school that delivers exceptional education without charging a penny.

The school traces its origins to 1862, when the church wardens of St Clement Danes parish in Aldwych established a boys' grammar school in Houghton Street, London. The first headmaster, Reverend W J Savell, welcomed boys who would go on to work as clerks for the expanding banks, railways and insurance companies clustering around Holborn. The school relocated to Hammersmith in 1928 before its final move to Chorleywood in 1975, when it transformed into the co-educational, all-ability school it remains today.

Links to the Church of St Clement Danes (on the Strand) remain active via a Commemoration Service each November, continuing a 160‑year parish‑school relationship. Sir John Barbirolli, the celebrated conductor who led the Halle Orchestra for more than three decades, remains the school's most famous alumnus. The Barbirolli Hall, where Speech Day and Prize Giving take place each September, honours his memory.

Toby Sutherland has led the school since January 2018. A local product educated at Merchant Taylors' School, he read politics and European studies before training as a teacher at Watford Grammar School for Boys. He taught at Queens’ School, Bushey (2001–2017) and then joined St Clement Danes as deputy head, paving his route to headship. He also chairs Challenge Partners’ education advisory group and still covers some PSHE, keeping a classroom presence that many heads lose.

The eight houses bear names connected to St Clement Danes' Church and the Inns of Court: Burleigh, Clare, Clement, Dane, Essex, Exeter, Lincoln, and Temple. Inter-house competitions run throughout the year, culminating in an annual Sports Day where house loyalty runs high.

Results here are strong and consistent. At GCSE in 2024, 47.2% of grades were 9 to 7, with an Attainment 8 score of 63.8. The Progress 8 score of +0.74 indicates students make well above average progress from their starting points. The school ranks 469th in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of secondary schools in England. Locally, St Clement Danes ranks 2nd among secondary schools in Rickmansworth.

At A-level, the picture is equally impressive. In 2024, 76.1% of grades were A* to B, with 44.6% at A* or A. The school ranks 286th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), again placing it in the top 11% of sixth forms in England. For combined GCSE and A-level performance, the school ranks 285th in England.

Around two‑thirds of pupils currently follow the EBacc route (it’s compulsory for higher performers), and almost a quarter take triple science. Most students take nine GCSEs, choosing from 16 option-blocked subjects, including textiles and business studies.

The sixth form offers 27 A-level options. STEM tends to be the biggest draw, with history, geography and psychology also popular. Physics, drama and English literature are regularly among the strongest-performing subjects. Applied alternatives include a Business Studies BTEC and a Level 3 food-and-nutrition qualification.

Hard work permeates every classroom. Academic achievement remains the clear priority, with high expectations established from Year 7. Setting operates in mathematics and science, with full classes for top sets and smaller groups of four to ten students in lower sets for more individualised attention.

Languages start straight away in Year 7: everyone takes French and also chooses Spanish or German. Most pupils then carry one language through to GCSE, signalling a deliberate emphasis on linguistic competence alongside the core academic suite.

The school serves as the base for a self-funded Science Training Hub and hosts one of the inaugural 23 National Computing Hubs in England, established in 2019. These designations support advanced STEM education and provide professional development opportunities for teachers and technicians in science and computer science across the region.

A full-time SENCo and ten learning support practitioners oversee the roughly 12% of students on the SEN register, primarily supporting those with dyslexia, autism and ADHD. Nurture groups operate in English, mathematics and science, while a separate homework support club opens to all students.

The sixth form retains approximately 82% of Year 11 students internally, with around 30 external students joining in Year 12. For sixth form entry, the minimum is grade 5 in GCSE English and maths plus three other subjects; for intended A‑level subjects, grade 6+ is required.

In 2024, 66% of Year 13 leavers progressed to university, with 30% securing places at Russell Group institutions. One student accepted a place at Cambridge. The school's own figures suggest 43% of leavers progress to Russell Group universities in recent cohorts. Apprenticeships account for 4% of leavers, with 20% entering employment directly. Popular university destinations include courses across the sciences, humanities and social sciences.

Around 30% of students leave after GCSEs, some seeking a change of environment, others not meeting the sixth form entry threshold. Destinations include local independent schools, state alternatives such as Croxley Danes (a sister school within the Danes Educational Trust), and further education colleges offering more vocational pathways.

Competition for places is fierce. In 2024, the school received 1,144 applications for 232 Year 7 places, a subscription ratio of nearly 5:1. This oversubscription reflects the school's reputation and its unique admissions profile.

The allocation operates through several routes. Children with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school and looked-after children receive priority. Siblings of current students sometimes account for up to half the cohort. Children of staff also receive priority before the selective criteria apply.

Twenty-four places (10%) are awarded based on academic ability. In 2025, 733 applicants sat the academic ability test, with the lowest qualifying score at 218. A further 24 places (10%) go to students demonstrating musical aptitude, assessed through both an aural test and a performance assessment. In 2025, 166 students applied for music places; all applicants scoring 45 or more in the aural test were invited to perform.

For remaining places, distance determines allocation. WD3 postcodes receive priority, with the furthest distance offered in 2025 at 2,737.73 metres (approximately 1.7 miles). Applicants outside WD3 are considered only after local allocations are complete.

The school holds an Open Day each autumn. The 2025 Open Day took place on Saturday 27 September, with Headteacher speeches at 9.15am, 10.15am and 11.30am in the Barbirolli Hall. Families considering the school should note that both the academic and musical aptitude tests occur in Year 6, requiring early preparation.

Sixth form applications for 2026 entry open on 7 November 2025 and close at 6pm on 6 February 2026. Late applications are not accepted, though vacancies may be advertised after GCSE results day.

The pastoral hub is described as centrally placed, with a wellbeing room designed to feel calming — comfortable seating and rugs, plus colour‑changing lights and scent diffusers. Pastoral support is backed by a medical administrator and a pastoral support assistant, alongside form tutors and heads of year. An in-house counsellor provides additional support for students requiring it.

The approach to discipline is described as no-nonsense, with emphasis on boundary setting from the outset. Detentions serve as the most common sanction; exclusions remain rare. The 2024 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils are highly respectful of one another and that behaviour in lessons and around the school is exceptionally good. Students understand how their behaviour influences others and consequently hold themselves to high standards.

Music

Music sits at the heart of school life, as befits an institution that admits 10% of its intake on musical aptitude. The department has earned the Incorporated Society of Musicians' Bronze Certificate, awarded to schools where more than 10% of GCSE students take music and all achieve grades A* to C. The school also holds Music Mark status, recognising the value placed on music education.

Musicians enjoy an extensive range of ensembles. Two orchestras serve players from beginners to National Youth Orchestra members. Two choirs, including Gospel and Junior groups, perform regularly, while the Chamber Choir, Evensong Choir and Barbershop Choir provide opportunities for more specialised vocal work. The Jazz Band adds further variety. Around 280 peripatetic lessons take place weekly, with bursaries available for families needing financial support. Approximately 20 students take Music GCSE and five pursue it at A-level.

The school's choral tradition has historical significance. The choir featured in a 1975 EMI recording of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, conducted by Andre Previn with the London Symphony Orchestra. This heritage continues through regular concerts throughout the year and tours to Europe.

Drama

Drama thrives in the school's own theatre and hall, supported by two dedicated rehearsal rooms. Recent productions have included Matilda, involving students across year groups. Around 15 students take A-level Drama and 50 study it at GCSE. Over 100 students pursue LAMDA qualifications, taught by three specialist teachers.

Sport

The campus has generous playing fields plus two floodlit all‑weather pitches, hard courts, a gym and a sports hall. Sport is taught strongly across rugby, football, cricket and netball, plus tennis and athletics, and top teams often compete at county and even national level. Badminton, dance, rounders and trampolining feature among extracurricular options. The sports department operates from a purpose-built changing room block serving 60 students in each of the male and female facilities.

International tours extend sporting horizons. Recent trips have included a football tour to the USA and an athletics training camp in Lanzarote. World Challenge expeditions provide adventure opportunities beyond competitive sport.

Clubs and Activities

The extracurricular programme runs before school, during lunchtimes and after school. Duke of Edinburgh sees exceptional take-up, with over 200 students pursuing Bronze, 90 completing Silver and 69 achieving Gold. Debating attracts serious interest, while more niche options include forensic psychology, Warhammer, Tolkien appreciation and Magic the Gathering. Chess and crafting clubs also enjoy healthy participation.

Year 7 students participate in an outward bound week in Bude, building friendships and resilience early in their secondary school journey. Work shadowing programmes operate for Year 8 and Year 12 students, providing insight into potential career paths.

The school day runs from standard secondary hours. The Admissions Office operates Monday to Wednesday, 9.00am to 3.00pm during term time. The site sits approximately one mile from Chorleywood station on the Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways, with buses running from the station and from Watford.

St Clement Danes is the founding school of the Danes Educational Trust, which also includes Croxley Danes School, Elstree Screen Arts Academy, Onslow St Audrey's School, Chancellor's School and The John Warner School. This multi-academy structure provides collaborative opportunities across the Trust while maintaining each school's distinct identity.

Semi-selective entry creates early pressure. Families hoping for an academic or music place must prepare for testing in Year 6. The academic test attracted 733 candidates for 24 places in 2025; the music assessment drew 166 applicants for another 24 places. These odds require honest self-assessment about whether the additional stress serves the child.

Distance criteria favour WD3 postcodes. The furthest distance offered in 2025 was approximately 1.7 miles, and only to WD3 residents. Families living outside this postcode area face significantly reduced chances unless their child qualifies on academic or musical grounds.

Around 30% leave after GCSEs. This is higher than many comprehensive schools and reflects the rigorous sixth form entry requirements. Students not meeting the grade 5/6 thresholds will need alternative plans, and the school actively supports transitions to colleges and other institutions.

High expectations suit ambitious students. The academic culture here is deliberately demanding. Students who thrive on challenge and structure will flourish; those preferring a more relaxed environment may find the pace relentless.

St Clement Danes delivers comprehensive school education at grammar school standards, without the 11-plus or fee burden. The semi-selective admissions model creates a student body that includes both high academic achievers and musical talents alongside a broad local intake. Results consistently place the school among the top state secondaries in England, while the Outstanding Ofsted rating confirms quality across every measure.

Best suited to families within the tight WD3 catchment, or those whose children can demonstrate exceptional academic or musical ability in the Year 6 tests. The main challenge remains getting through the door. For those who secure a place, this is a school that combines genuine academic ambition with outstanding pastoral care and an extracurricular programme that rivals many independent schools.