MixedState

Parmiter's School

Watford, Hertfordshire County Council · WD25 0UU

Tracing its origins to 1681, Parmiter's School is a large state secondary in Watford, Hertfordshire, educating around 1,496 pupils, including a sizeable sixth form of nearly 400. It selects at 11+ and is mixed, with a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 14 that sits comfortably below the typical state-school figure. Ofsted has judged every area of its work Outstanding, from quality of education and leadership to behaviour, personal development and the sixth form. Families seeking a long-established, academically focused school with a settled and orderly culture will find much to consider here.

1,496

Pupils

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Overview & data

Gender
Mixed
Type
state school
Pupils
1,496
Pupil:teacher ratio
14
Location
Watford, Hertfordshire County Council

Headteacher

Headmaster Anthony Smith

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Latest results

GCSE grade 9-7

55%

A-level A*-A

37%

A-level A*-B

71%

Teaching & academics

Results are strong across both phases: 55% of GCSE entries reach grades 9-7, and at A-level 37% are graded A*-A with 71% at A*-B. There is a clear leaning towards the sciences and mathematics, with Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology all popular at sixth form, alongside humanities and social sciences such as History, Geography, Economics and Psychology. The school offers GCSEs, A-levels and the EPQ, giving able pupils room to extend their independent study.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils
392

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsFurther MathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyHistoryGeographyEnglish LiteratureEconomicsPsychology

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support
8.33%
EHC plans
2.46%

Arts & extracurricular

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

MathematicsEnglish LiteratureEnglish LanguagePhysicsChemistryBiologyHistoryGeographySpanishFrenchGerman

Sport

Main sports

FootballTennisNetball

Beyond the classroom

Sport features prominently, with football, tennis and netball among the main activities on offer. Modern languages are well represented in the curriculum, with French, German and Spanish all taught.

Ethos & heritage

Founded
1681
Boarding
No

Mobile phone policy

Students do not use their phones during the school day. They are expected to turn their phones off whilst in school.

Inspection reports

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour & attitudes
Outstanding
Last inspected
3 July 2024
Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A consistently Outstanding selective school with a science-and-maths backbone and a tradition stretching back over three centuries. Best suited to academically motivated children who will thrive in a focused, phone-free environment.

The Passmate verdict

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Parmiter's School 11+: frequently asked questions

Where is Parmiter's School located?

Parmiter's School is located at Watford, WD25 0UU.

What type of school is Parmiter's School?

Parmiter's School is a state-funded school.

How many pupils attend Parmiter's School?

Parmiter's School has approximately 1,496 pupils on roll.

Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.