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Birchwood High School

Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5BD

Not rated

Inspected 21 January 2025 · no overall grade

No overall grade
Ofsted
45.5
Attainment 8
Secondary
Phase
11–18
Ages
1,454
Pupils
Mixed
Gender
Academy converter
Type

About Birchwood High School

Birchwood High School is an academy converter in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, for pupils aged 11–18. It has 1,454 pupils on roll. It is part of BIRCHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 45.5 (2025/26). 15.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.3% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority
Hertfordshire →
School Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
Age Range
Ages 11–18
Gender
Mixed
Pupils / Capacity
1,454 / 1,500 (97%)
Sixth Form
Has a sixth form
Religious Character
None
Admissions Policy
Non-selective
Last Ofsted Inspection
21 January 2025

Pupil profile

2025/26

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

15.8%
Free school meals
13.3%
EAL
3.3%
SEN support
9.6%
EHC plan

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Results & performance

2025/26

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

GCSE results (Key Stage 4)

45.5
Attainment 8
265 pupils
44.2%
Grade 5+ English & Maths
65.3%
Grade 4+ English & Maths

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Sixth form (Key Stage 5)

B-
A-level average grade
40 students
10%
AAB+ (2 facilitating)
52%
To higher education
14%
To top-third universities
4%
To apprenticeship

Where pupils go next

93%
Sustained destination
85%
Stayed in education
4%
Apprenticeship

Attendance

10.2%
Overall absence
29.9%
Persistent absence

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Workforce

2024/25

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

86.78
Teachers (FTE)
↑ +2.5 vs 2023/24
17.6
Pupils per teacher
↓ -0.2 vs 2023/24
11.4
Teaching assistants (FTE)
↑ +1.9 vs 2023/24
£50,903
Avg teacher salary
Mean · 6% on leadership pay
↓ −£3,335 vs 2023/24
4
Teacher vacancies
4.4% rate
↑ +4 vs 2023/24
6
Leadership (FTE)
→ 0.0 vs 2023/24

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

School finances

2024-25

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

£7,952
Spend per pupil
£7,816
Income per pupil
58%
Spent on teaching staff

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address
Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5BD
Phone
01279655936
Principal
Sam Griffin

Teaching Jobs

Site / Catering
Lettings Assistant - Variable Hours
PermanentPart time£10.85 - £14.31 Hourly · · unior Lettings Assistants will be paid at a rate of £10.85 per hour (under 18 years of age) / £13.67 (over 18 years of age) for hours worked. Senior Lettings Assistants will be paid at a rate of £14.31 per hour.
Closes in 6 daysView & apply

Applications handled externally

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Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Birchwood High School?
Birchwood High School is an academy converter in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, for pupils aged 11–18.
How many pupils does Birchwood High School have?
Birchwood High School has 1,454 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.
How does Birchwood High School perform at GCSE?
Pupils at Birchwood High School achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 45.5 in 2025/26.
Is Birchwood High School part of an academy trust?
Yes — Birchwood High School is part of BIRCHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
Where is Birchwood High School?
Birchwood High School is located at Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5BD.

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