Overall Oxbridge
#395
6 ranked schools · +258 places vs Eng avg #653 of 1,538
Applications
213
Offers
55
Offer rate25.8%
-2.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 28.7%
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.
39
Primary
schools
8
Secondary
schools
1
All-through
schools
1
Post-16
colleges
3
Special
schools
1
Other
schools
of which10sixth forms·2grammar·9faith·2nursery schools55 total
Area Performance
Watford schools rank in the top 36% of England
Across 48 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 8.10/10, +0.67 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
30% Elite
Distribution across all Watford schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Watford vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 36%
Across all ranked Watford schools
Top 39%Primaryavg #5,839 of 14,821
Top 27%Secondaryavg #1,044 of 3,803
Top 35%Sixth formavg #886 of 2,523
Primary schools: 30 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.6/10
+0.27 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#5,839
+11 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 39% of 14,821
% 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
7.6/10
+0.27 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#5,839
+11 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 39% of 14,821
% 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
+1.50 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,044
+23 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 27% of 3,803
% 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
+1.50 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,044
+23 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 27% of 3,803
% 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: 9 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.9/10
+1.16 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#886
+15 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 35% of 2,523
% 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
+1.16 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#886
+15 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 35% of 2,523
% 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%
Oxford
#225
7 ranked schools · +37 places vs Eng avg #262 of 1,866
Applications
86
Offers
19
Offer rate22.1%
+5.5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 16.6%
Cambridge
#468
7 ranked schools · +231 places vs Eng avg #699 of 1,830
Applications
132
Offers
36
Offer rate27.3%
-9.7 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 37.0%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Watford town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Watford town
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Watford town
Local directory
School profiles in Watford
Browse 51 local profile links across primary schools in watford town, secondary schools in watford town, sixth forms in watford town and other schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
69 nurseries in WatfordLoading map…
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