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Birchwood High School
Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5BD, Hertfordshire
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
44.4 / 100
Bottom 44%
Better than 44% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Good
Pupils
1,454
Capacity
1,500
Ages
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
97%
Summary
With a Good rating from Ofsted, this secondary school demonstrates solid academic performance, particularly with a GCSE Attainment 8 score that places it in the top 48% of schools nationally. While 64% of students achieve a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, the percentage of students progressing to top-third universities is relatively low at 14%. Parent satisfaction is moderately strong, with 76% recommending the school based on feedback from 275 responses.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 21 January 2025Quality Of Education: GoodPersonal Development: GoodBehaviour & Attitudes: GoodLeadership & Management: Good
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 46.1 | Top 48% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 64% | Bottom 46% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 42% | Bottom 44% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 36% | Top 48% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 23% | Top 48% UK |
University Destinations
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Progression to university% of sixth-form leavers who went on to study a degree at a UK university. Includes all universities. National average ~55%. | 52% | Average |
| Top-third universities% of leavers who went to a top-third university (Russell Group and equivalents — the most academically selective institutions). National average ~18%. | 14% | Average |
Based on 117 leavers (DfE Destinations data, latest available year).
Parent View (275 responses)
★★★★★3.7
Good range of extra-curricular
96%
Good range of subjects
95%
My child feels safe
88%
My child is happy
86%
Progress is communicated
83%
My child makes good progress
79%
I'd recommend this school
76%
School has high expectations
75%
School supports development
74%
Behaviour is good
60%
School keeps me informed
60%
School responds to concerns
59%
Pupil Ethnicity
White British75.3%
White Other10.4%
Mixed W+B Carib.2.0%
Black African1.9%
Mixed Other1.6%
Mixed W+Asian1.5%
Asian Indian1.4%
Asian Chinese1.4%
Mixed W+B African1.1%
Asian Other0.9%
Other0.8%
White Irish0.4%
Asian Bangladeshi0.3%
Gypsy/Roma0.1%
Black Other0.1%
Asian Pakistani0.1%
Black Caribbean0.1%
Location
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51.87432, 0.18227 · CM23 5BD
School details
Local authorityHertfordshire
RegionEast of England
URN137637
School typeAcademy converter
Websitewww.birchwoodonline.co.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What is Birchwood High School rated by Ofsted?
Birchwood High School was rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 21 January 2025.
Is Birchwood High School a good school?
Birchwood High School scores 44.4/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 44% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
What do parents say about Birchwood High School?
Based on 275 Ofsted Parent View responses, Birchwood High School receives a satisfaction score of 73% across all parent survey questions.
How do pupils perform at Birchwood High School in GCSEs?
Birchwood High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.1. 64% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near CM23 5BD?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near CM23 5BD with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.