61%
GCSE 9–4 · 2024/25
40%
GCSE 5+ · 2024/25
46.7
Attainment 8 · 2024/25
17%
EBacc entry · 2024/25
537.0
EBacc APS · 2024/25
756
Pupils · 2024/25
20%
EAL · 2024/25
33%
Persistent abs. · 2024/25
Local authorityHertfordshire
PhaseSecondary with sixth form with sixth form
School typeMaintained school
Pupil : teacher ratio13.5:1
AdmissionsNon-selective
Religious characterChurch of England
StatusOpen
Overview of Townsend Church of England School · Secondary with sixth form · Hertfordshire
How does this school perform?
Key Stage 4 · 2024/25 · trend since 2016/17
GCSE 9–4 incl. Eng & maths
61%
-7pp
70%64%58%
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 61%
GCSE 5+ incl. Eng & maths
40%
-11pp
51%45%40%
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 40%
Attainment 8
46.7
-1.5
49.047.846.5
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 46.7
EBacc entry
17%
+3pp
22%16%9%
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 17%
EBacc APS
537.0
-27.9
564.8461.9359.0
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 537.0
Progress 8 compared with other schools
Progress 8 (2023/24 cohort)+0.14
AverageSixth form
Key Stage 5 · 2024/25 · trend since 2016/17
A-level APS
28.0
-5.6
33.627.321.1
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 28.0
A-level value added
-0.02
-0.2
+0.2-0.1-0.4
'17'18'19'24'25
'25 · 0.0
AAB+ in facilitating subjects
7%
+5pp
9%6%3%
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · 7%
Average A-level grade
C-
-1
C+C-D
'19'22'23'24'25
'25 · C-
Value added compared with other schools
A-level value added-0.02
AverageDestinations
Pupils staying in education or entering apprenticeships or employment
After Key Stage 4 · 2024/25
94%
Education or employment
88%
Education
2%
Apprenticeships
4%
Employment
After 16 to 18 study · 2024/25
85%
Education or employment
57%
Education
2%
Apprenticeships
26%
Employment
Pupils & context
2024/25
Pupils on roll
756
Pupil : teacher ratio
13.5
Workforce data · 2025/26
EAL
20%
FSM eligible
25%
SEN
26%
Overall absence
12%
Persistent absence
33%
Contact
Address
High Oaks, St Albans, AL3 6DR
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Telephone
Email
—
History
All years · Historical DfE data by academic year
Secondary — Key Stage 4
GCSE attainment and Progress 8 — how pupils progressed from KS2 to KS4.
| Year | GCSE 9–4 | GCSE 5+ | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc entry | EBacc APS | EBacc lang entry | Cohort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 61% | 40% | 46.7 | Not applicable | 17% | 537.0 | 23% | 756 |
| 2023/24 | 68% | 51% | 48.2 | +0.14 | 14% | 564.8 | 21% | 779 |
| 2022/23 | 70% | 48% | 49.0 | -0.10 | 19% | 527.9 | 26% | 768 |
| 2021/22 | 58% | 41% | 46.5 | -0.17 | 9% | 540.9 | 12% | 764 |
| 2018/19 | 64% | 46% | 48.2 | +0.20 | 22% | 359.0 | 23% | 641 |
| 2017/18 | 63% | 39% | 46.9 | +0.32 | 13% | 298.7 | 17% | 619 |
| 2016/17 | 65% | 41% | 43.9 | -0.33 | 33% | — | 35% | 583 |
Sixth form — Key Stage 5
| Year | A-level APS | Avg grade | VA progress | AAB+ | Cohort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 28.0 | C- | -0.02 | 7% | 37 |
| 2023/24 | 33.6 | C+ | +0.18 | 3% | 49 |
| 2022/23 | 25.2 | C- | — | 9% | 50 |
| 2021/22 | 31.5 | C | — | 5% | 51 |
| 2018/19 | 21.1 | D | -0.41 | 3% | 43 |
| 2017/18 | 28.1 | C- | -0.22 | 16% | 63 |
| 2016/17 | 22.4 | D+ | -0.11 | 12% | 48 |
Pupils & absence
| Year | Pupils | Pupil:teacher | SEN | EAL | FSM ever | Absence | Persistent absence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 756 | 13.8 | 26% | 20% | 25% | 12% | 33% |
| 2023/24 | 779 | 15.7 | 24% | 20% | 23% | 12% | 35% |
| 2022/23 | 768 | 15.5 | 20% | 18% | 22% | 11% | 37% |
| 2021/22 | 764 | 16.6 | 17% | 19% | 22% | 12% | 44% |
| 2020/21 | 746 | 16.5 | 15% | 18% | 20% | — | — |
| 2018/19 | 641 | 15.0 | 14% | 18% | 26% | 6% | 15% |
| 2017/18 | 619 | 15.5 | 17% | 18% | 26% | 6% | 16% |
| 2016/17 | 583 | 14.6 | 15% | 17% | 27% | 5% | 13% |
School performance data © Crown copyright. Source: Department for Education.