The Astley Cooper School
About the school
The Astley Cooper School is an open secondary school in Hertfordshire.
Latest Ofsted inspection
Published Ofsted information, current as at 31 July 2026. Inspection outcomes are not performance rankings.
- Latest inspection
- 28 April 2026
- Published
- 18 June 2026
- Inspection type
- S5 Inspection
Published inspection outcomes
Safeguarding
Met
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour
Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing
Needs attention
Post-16 provision
Expected standard
Leadership and governance
Needs attention
Previous inspection framework
These judgements are retained by Ofsted from an earlier inspection framework.
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Yes
Early years
Not applicable
Sixth form
Good
Results and school context
GCSE and key stage 4
Attainment 8
- School
- 34.7
- Hertfordshire
- 50.6
- England
- 46.1
Progress 8
The DfE has not published this measure for 2024/25.
- School
- N/A
- Hertfordshire
- N/A
- England
- N/A
English and maths grade 5+
- School
- 26.70%
- Hertfordshire
- 53.40%
- England
- 45.40%
English and maths grade 4+
- School
- 44.10%
- Hertfordshire
- 71.70%
- England
- 64.80%
EBacc entry
- School
- 11.80%
- Hertfordshire
- 47.00%
- England
- 40.50%
EBacc average point score
- School
- 2.89
- Hertfordshire
- 4.56
- England
- 4.09
A levels and sixth form
Average A-level grade
- School
- D+
Average A-level points
- School
- 24.66
AAB or better
- School
- Suppressed
Pupil context and attendance
DfE context data for 2024/25. These characteristics provide context and are not quality ratings.
Pupils on roll
947
Girls
47.41%
Boys
52.59%
SEN support
25.03%
Education, health and care plan
3.80%
English as an additional language
17.60%
Eligible for free school meals in the past six years
36.77%
Overall absence
13.65
Persistent absence
39.21
Pupil destinations
DfE destination measures from the 2024/25 release. These outcomes are published after a time lag.
After Key Stage 4
Cohort
135
Sustained education or employment
87%
Education
81%
Apprenticeship
3%
Employment
3%
Not sustained
7%
After 16–18 study
Cohort
29
Sustained education or employment
83%
Higher education
52%
Further education
3%
Apprenticeship
7%
Employment
21%