Best secondary schools in Watford (2026)
Watford has 6 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Watford Grammar School for Boys, in the top 4% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 56.0, against 46.1 for England. 3 are in England's top 10%, and 2 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Watford has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 4% in England |
Watford Grammar School for Boys Watford · Boys · Church of England |
68.1 | 68.9 | 83% | Report card | |
2 Top 5% in England |
Watford Grammar School for Girls Watford · Girls · Church of England |
67.6 | 68.2 | 83% | Outstanding | |
3 Top 5% in England |
Parmiter's School Watford |
66.1 | 66.5 | 81% | Outstanding | |
4 Top 25% in England |
Saint Michael's Catholic High School Watford · Roman Catholic |
52.2 | 50.9 | 50% | Not judged | |
5 Bottom 27% in England |
Westfield Academy Watford |
42.4 | 41.4 | 38% | Not judged | |
6 Bottom 20% in England |
Future Academies Watford Watford |
39.3 | 39.8 | 32% | Not judged |
Other towns in Hertfordshire
- Bishop's Stortford
- Bushey
- Cheshunt
- Harpenden
- Hemel Hempstead
- Hertford
- Hitchin
- Hoddesdon
- Rickmansworth
- St Albans
- Stevenage
- Welwyn Garden City
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Watford?
On exam results over the last three years, Watford Grammar School for Boys is the top-ranked secondary school in Watford, in the top 4% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.