Hertfordshire
Watford Grammar School for Boys
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 68.9 is well above the national average of around 46. This reflects strong GCSE outcomes across the standard subject basket.
- 68.9
- Attainment 8
- 88%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2024/2025
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +0.72
- Progress 8
- [0.53, 0.91]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Church of England religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Church of England). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Admissions and catchment
Council allocation figures
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
We have not collected Hertfordshire council’s allocation figures for this school yet. We only show a verdict when we can cite the council’s published figures. Check Hertfordshire’s admissions page for its allocation booklet.
In-year places (September 2026 to July 2027): Year 7: no places · Year 8: no places · Year 9: no places · Year 10: no places · Year 11: no places. As listed by the council on 27 September 2026 (source). Lists change daily; confirm with the council’s in-year admissions team.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 211 | 396 | 173 (44%) | 953 |
| September 2025 | 215 | 387 | 180 (47%) | 929 |
| September 2024 | 214 | 363 | 173 (48%) | 935 |
| September 2023 | 221 | 355 | 182 (51%) | 867 |
| September 2022 | 208 | 361 | 159 (44%) | 910 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Hertfordshire’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25)
University destinations
Share of this school's sixth-form leavers who went on to Oxford or Cambridge, a Russell Group university, or a university in the top third by entry grades. Department for Education data for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Left sixth form | Students | Oxford or Cambridge | Russell Group | Top-third universities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 2024-2025 tables | 196 | Not published | Not published | 56% England 19% |
| 2020/21 2023-2024 tables | 197 | Not published | Not published | 70% England 24% |
| 2019/20 2022-2023 tables | 201 | 2% England 1% | 58% England 18% | 60% England 20% |
| 2018/19 2021-2022 tables | 170 | 5% England 1% | 52% England 15% | 59% England 17% |
| 2017/18 2020-2021 tables | 204 | 6% England 1% | 61% England 16% | 62% England 18% |
| 2015/16 2018-2019 tables | 179 | 7% England 1% | 62% England 14% | 74% England 19% |
- The DfE stopped publishing Oxbridge and Russell Group shares for individual schools after the 2022-23 performance tables (students who left in 2019/20). Top-third figures continue.
- Figures are percentages of all students who finished 16 to 18 study at the school, counting those who sustained a university place in the two years after leaving.
- Rankings use the average across years weighted by the number of students; a school needs at least 2 years and 50 students to be ranked. The top-third ranking uses the latest 3 years. Ranks are among state-funded schools and colleges.
- '<0.5%' means above zero but under half a percent. 'Suppressed' means 5 or fewer students.
- Source: Department for Education, 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training (Compare school and college performance, Explore education statistics).
Entry, tests and fees
Entrance test
Registration for the South West Herts Consortium Schools test will be open from Tuesday 1st April 2026 to 5 th June 2026 .
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Registration for the South West Herts Consortium Schools test will be open from Tuesday 1st April 2026 to 5 th June 2026 .
Source · checked 28 September 2026
2. Complete the online School Information Form (SIF) for Watford Grammar School for Boys. (link below)
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Open events
Open Morning Saturday 3rd October 2026 from 9:00am to 12 noon
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Admissions pageAdmission policyTest information
Copied from the school's and test organisers' own pages; check them before registering or applying.
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 222 | 68.9 | — | 87.8% | 95.9% | 6.8 |
| 2023/2024 | 222 | 66.5 | +0.72 | 89.6% | 95.9% | 6.5 |
| 2022/2023 | 227 | 68.8 | +0.75 | 94.0% | 96.0% | 6.8 |
| 2021/2022 | 189 | 69.9 | +0.80 | 94.0% | 99.0% | 6.9 |
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Hertfordshire for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 136276 |
| Local authority | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East of England |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Boys |
| Age range | 11-18 |
| Headteacher | Headmaster Ian Cooksey |
| Trust | WATFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | WD18 7JF |
| Latest pupils | 222 |
| FSM eligible | 6.2% |
Contact and identifiers
Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7JF
http://www.watfordboys.orgView local authority page1923208900| DfE number | 5401 |
| UKPRN | 10031379 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2010 |
| GIAS updated | 17 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 17 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2024/2025 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 1 Dec 2021 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 13 Oct 2021 |
| Publication date | 1 Dec 2021 |