Parmiter's School
School summary
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.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
55%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
37%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
71%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 3 July 2024
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.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Anthony Smith
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 392
- Sixth-form Ofsted
- Outstanding
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
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.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1681
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 8.33%
- EHC plans
- 2.46%
Mobile phone policy
Students do not use their phones during the school day. They are expected to turn their phones off whilst in school.
Schools nearby
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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.
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Parmiter's School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.