Overall Oxbridge
#489
8 ranked schools · +425 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
171
Offers
47
Offer rate27.5%
+5.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
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·2nurseries55 total
Area Performance
Watford schools rank in the top 38% 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
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Watford vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 38%
Across all ranked Watford schools
Top 41%Primaryavg #6,211 of 14,978
Top 27%Secondaryavg #1,048 of 3,862
Top 35%Sixth formavg #907 of 2,555
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
#1,048
+23 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 27% of 3,862
% 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
#1,048
+23 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 27% of 3,862
% 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
#907
+15 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 35% of 2,555
% 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
#907
+15 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 35% of 2,555
% 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
#196
5 ranked schools · +57 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
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 1,880
Applications
101
Offers
33
Offer rate32.7%
+3.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Watford
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Watford
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Watford
Local directory
School profiles in Watford
Browse 49 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
Loading map…
School Match
Not sure where to start?
Answer ten quick questions and we’ll match four schools to your child.
Explore nearby areas
Discover schools in neighbouring cities, towns and boroughs.