BoysState

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford, Hertfordshire County Council · WD18 7JF

Tracing its origins to 1704, Watford Grammar School for Boys is a long-established Church of England state grammar that selects through 11+ entry. With around 1,597 boys on roll, including a sizeable sixth form of 470, it ranks among the larger schools of its kind. Every aspect of its 2021 Ofsted inspection was judged Outstanding, from quality of education and behaviour through to leadership and the sixth form. A pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 17 sits comfortably for a school of this scale.

1,597

Pupils

Outstanding

Ofsted

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Overview & data

Gender: Boys
Type: state school
Pupils: 1,597
Pupil:teacher ratio: 17
Location: Watford, Hertfordshire County Council

Headteacher

Headteacher Mr I Cooksey

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Latest results

GCSE grade 9-7

60%

A-level A*-A

36%

A-level A*-B

66%

Teaching & academics

Results reflect a confidently selective intake: 60% of GCSE entries reached grades 9-7, and at A-level 36% achieved A*-A with two-thirds at A*-B. The sciences and mathematics feature strongly at both GCSE and sixth form, where Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics and the three sciences are among the most popular choices alongside humanities such as History and Geography. An EPQ option allows older pupils to pursue independent research, and three modern languages are taught from the lower school upwards.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 470

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsFurther MathematicsEconomicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyHistoryGeographyPsychologyGovernment and PoliticsReligious StudiesFilm StudiesEnglish LiteratureMusicComputer StudiesDesign and Technology

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 6.77%
EHC plans: 3.73%

Arts & extracurricular

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

English LanguageEnglish LiteratureMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyHistoryGeographyFrenchGermanSpanishReligious StudiesDesign & TechnologyFood TechnologyComputingMusicPEClassical CivilisationArt & Design

Sport

Main sports

RugbyHockeyCricket

Beyond the classroom

Sport centres on rugby, hockey and cricket, the traditional fixtures of a school with this heritage. Beyond the core subjects, the curriculum reaches into Classical Civilisation, Music, Art and Design and Film Studies, giving boys room to develop interests outside the academic mainstream.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1704
Religious character: C of E
Boarding: No

Mobile phone policy

Pupils (years 7-11) are not allowed to use personal mobile phones in school. Mobile phones must be kept turned off and out of sight at all times whilst students are on the school site. For the purposes of this policy, 'mobile phones' includes smart watches. Students in years 12 and 13 are allowed to use mobile phones in the sixth form café area and the terrace outside the sixth form centre. Phones must be out of sight in the sixth form study areas but may be used to listen to music/podcasts through headphones/Airpods in these areas.

Inspection reports

Ofsted overall: Outstanding
Quality of education: Outstanding
Behaviour & attitudes: Outstanding
Last inspected: 13 October 2021

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A historic, fully selective boys' grammar with straight Outstanding ratings and strong science and maths credentials. Families seeking a rigorous, traditional state education will find much to weigh here.

The Passmate verdict