Hertswood Academy, based in Borehamwood, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Hertswood Academy currently has around 1173 pupils on roll, which is about 63% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 54.9% boys and 45.1% girls. Around 33.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 11.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 35.6%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (50.9%). other white pupils make up about 20.4%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 91% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (87%) , including 54% who stay in school sixth forms and 32% progressing to further education , while 1% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Cowley Hill, Borehamwood, WD6 5LG |
| Website: | www.hertswoodacademy.org |
| Telephone: | 02082387200 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Hertfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Wanda Gill |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 138747 |
Ofsted inspection date: 11/02/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1861 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1173 |
| Number of Boys: | 644 |
| Number of Girls: | 529 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 11.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 35.6% | 8.2% |
| White British | 50.90% | 597 |
| Other White | 20.40% | 239 |
| African | 8.50% | 100 |
| Other Asian | 3.40% | 40 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 3.20% | 38 |
| Other Mixed | 2.90% | 34 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 2.70% | 32 |
| White and Black African | 1.40% | 17 |
| Indian | 1.10% | 13 |
| White and Asian | 0.90% | 11 |
| Other Black | 0.90% | 11 |
| Chinese | 0.80% | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.70% | 8 |
| Caribbean | 0.60% | 7 |
| Unclassified | 0.50% | 6 |
| Irish | 0.40% | 5 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 4 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.20% | 2 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlands Primary School Alban Crescent , WD6 5JF | 3out of 4 | 416 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cowley Hill School Winstre Road , WD6 5DP | 3out of 4 | 563 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Teresa Catholic Primary School Brook Road , WD6 5HL | 3out of 4 | 844 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Parkside Community Primary School Aycliffe Road , WD6 4EP | 3out of 4 | 1,190 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Monksmead School Hillside Avenue , WD6 1HL | 3out of 4 | 1,417 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertswood Academy Cowley Hill , WD6 5LG | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hawksmoor School Cowley Hill , WD6 5LG | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hertswood School Cowley Hill , WD6 5LG | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstree Screen Arts Academy Studio Way , Elstree WD6 5NN | - not rated | 808 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Hillside School Hillside Avenue , WD6 1HN | - not rated | 1,481 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmshill School Thrift Farm Lane , Shenley Road WD6 1TS | - not rated | 523 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Lyndhurst Middle School Gateshead Road , WD6 4NJ | - not rated | 1,359 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Furzehill Middle School Furzehill Road , WD6 2EF | - not rated | 1,775 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Brookmead School Allerton Road , WD6 4AH | - not rated | 1,391 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Radlett Preparatory School Ltd Kendal Hall , Watling Street WD7 7LY | - not rated | 3,061 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.