MixedIndependentBoarding

St Margaret's School

Bushey, Hertfordshire, East of England · WD23 1DT

Founded in 1749, St Margaret's is one of the older independent schools still going strong, offering both day and boarding places to a mixed roll of around 496 pupils in Bushey. With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly eight to one, classes are small and attention is generous. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the school its top grade of 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Nearly a fifth of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a school comfortable accommodating a range of learning needs.

496

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£26,622

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender
Mixed
Type
independent (fee-paying) school
Age range
2-19
Pupils
496
Pupil:teacher ratio
8
Location
Bushey, Hertfordshire, East of England
Website
https://www.stmargarets-school.org.uk/
Telephone
020 8416 4400

Entrance & admissions

Entry age
11

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Headteacher

Head Mrs Lara Péchard

Latest results

Attainment 8

56.3

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

73%

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

43%

A-level A*-A

37%

A-level A*-B

65%

Teaching & academics

Results sit well above the national picture: an Attainment 8 score of 56.3 against a national average of 46.9, and 73% of pupils gaining grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared with 47% nationally. At GCSE, 43% of grades fall in the 9-7 band, and at A-level 37% reach A*-A with 65% at A*-B. The curriculum spans GCSE, A-level and the EPQ, with a notably broad sixth-form menu ranging from Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies to Psychology, Mathematics and Business Studies.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils
73

Popular A-level subjects

Religious StudiesPsychologyPhysical Education/Sports StudiesMathematicsHistoryGovernment and PoliticsEnglish LiteratureClassical CivilisationBusiness StudiesBiologyArt and Design

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support
19.23%
EHC plans
0.5%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicMusicArtSportSTEMDrama

Languages

FrenchSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

English LanguageEnglish LiteratureMathematicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsHistoryGeographyBusiness StudiesComputer StudiesDesign & TechnologyFrenchSpanishLatinReligious StudiesArt & DesignPhysical Education

Sport

Main sports

SwimmingCricketRugbyWater polo

Beyond the classroom

Swimming and water polo feature prominently alongside cricket and rugby, giving the sporting programme an aquatic emphasis. Scholarships in Music, Art, Sport, STEM and Drama, as well as Academic awards, point to strengths beyond the classroom that ambitious pupils can build on.

Ethos & heritage

Founded
1749
Boarding
Yes

Mobile phone policy

Mobile phones may be brought to school by pupils from year 7 upwards but use for any purpose including listening to music during the school day (8am to 6pm) including at break, lunch, supervised study is strictly forbidden. Phones, smart iWatches and ear pods should be stored in a Yondr pouch during school hours.

Money matters

Day fees (per year)
£26,622
Boarding fees (per year)
£43,575 - £50,631

Means-tested bursaries on offer

Inspection reports

ISI rating
excellent
ISI personal development
excellent
Last inspected
14 October 2025
Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A long-established mixed school with boarding, small classes and results comfortably above average. Means-tested bursaries help widen access to day fees of up to £26,622 and boarding fees of up to £50,631.

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St Margaret's School 11+: frequently asked questions

Where is St Margaret's School located?

St Margaret's School is located at Merry Hill Road, Bushey, WD23 1DT.

What type of school is St Margaret's School?

St Margaret's School is an independent (fee-paying) school in East of England.

How many pupils attend St Margaret's School?

St Margaret's School has approximately 496 pupils on roll.

What is St Margaret's School's inspection rating?

St Margaret's School is inspected by the ISI and was judged "excellent" at its inspection on 14 October 2025.

Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.