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EnglandWatford

Schools in Watford

Compact Victorian streets around the old market core give way to Edwardian and inter-war suburban estates as Watford spreads through Hertfordshire, fifteen miles northwest of central London. The town's industrial character was shaped by the Grand Junction Canal in 1798 and the London and Birmingham Railway in 1837, which drew paper mills, print works, and breweries to the banks of the River Colne. Around 102,000 people live across the borough today.

Nascot Wood is among the most sought-after pockets for primary catchments in the borough, while Cassiobury forms the school-competitive belt to the west, drawing families across primary and secondary phases alike. Garston and Holywell extend the residential spread to the east. Watford Junction, on the West Coast Main Line, reaches London Euston in around seventeen minutes, and the Bakerloo line runs to its northern terminus at Watford station.

Area Performance

Watford schools rank in the top 37% of England

Across 49 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 8.03/10, +0.59 vs England.

Find My School Inspection Band

31% Elite

Distribution across all Watford schools

31%
21%
40%
8%
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping

Watford vs England distribution

National Rank

Top 37%

Across all ranked Watford schools

Top 41%Primaryavg #6,211 of 14,978
Top 26%Secondaryavg #967 of 3,680
Top 30%Sixth formavg #707 of 2,376

Primary schools: 30 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
+0.11 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,211
+9 pts vs medianmedian 7,489

top 41% of 14,978

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
67%
+5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
11%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
+0.11 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,211
+9 pts vs medianmedian 7,489

top 41% of 14,978

% reaching expected RWM standardstate
67%
+5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
11%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%

Secondary schools: 9 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.9/10
+1.53 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#967
+24 pts vs medianmedian 1,840

top 26% of 3,680

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
50%
-6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
52.1
+13.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.9/10
+1.53 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#967
+24 pts vs medianmedian 1,840

top 26% of 3,680

% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
50%
-6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
52.1
+13.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1

Sixth form schools: 10 schools (state + independent)

LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.9/10
+1.18 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#707
+20 pts vs medianmedian 1,188

top 30% of 2,376

% A*-A at A-Level
34%
+9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
61%
+11 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.9/10
+1.18 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#707
+20 pts vs medianmedian 1,188

top 30% of 2,376

% A*-A at A-Level
34%
+9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
61%
+11 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%

Overall Oxbridge

#489

8 ranked schools · +425 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,984

Applications

171

Offers

47

Offer rate27.5%
+5.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%

Oxford

#196

5 ranked schools · +57 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,198

Applications

70

Offers

14

Offer rate20.0%
+4.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%

Cambridge

#423

8 ranked schools · +350 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,881

Applications

101

Offers

33

Offer rate32.7%
+3.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
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