UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 137637

Birchwood High School

Academy converter · Bishop's Stortford · CM23 5BD

Ages 11–18 · 1,417 pupils · Hertfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

48.1

Overall absence

9.3%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-01-21

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.08
−20+2
Attainment 848.1
English & maths grade 5+49%
English & maths grade 4+69%
EBacc entry40%

EBacc APS: 4.3

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.7%
Unauthorised3.7%
Authorised absence
5.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.8%
Enrolments in measure
1,242

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill94%

1,417 pupils · 1,500 places

Pupils on roll
1,417
Boys / girls
770 / 647
School capacity
1,500
Capacity fill
1,417 / 1,500 (94%)
Free school meals
18.2%
FSM pupils
213
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: BIRCHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Academy trust
BIRCHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Headteacher
Mr Sam Griffin

Location

Address
Parsonage Lane
Postcode
CM23 5BD
Town
Bishop's Stortford
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Hertfordshire
District
East Hertfordshire
Constituency
Hertford and Stortford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, 1,417 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 18.2%.

Open schools in Bishop's Stortford
33
Secondary schools in Bishop's Stortford
7
Academies among open schools in Bishop's Stortford
36% (12)
Open schools in CM23
26
Secondary in CM23
7
Open schools in Hertfordshire LA
591
Secondary in Hertfordshire LA
77

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in Bishop's StortfordNear CM23

  • Hockerill Anglo-European College

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 5HX · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att860.7
    • P80.4
    • EM5+70%
    • Absence6.6%

    0.5 miles away

  • St Mary's Catholic School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 2NQ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att854.6
    • P80.4
    • EM5+59%
    • Absence6.8%

    1.2 miles away

  • Avanti Grange Secondary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Free schools · Secondary

    Bishops Stortford · CM23 2BD · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM10.0%

    1.5 miles away

  • Forest Hall School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Stansted Mountfitchet · CM24 8TZ · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.1
    • P80.3
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence9.5%

    1.7 miles away

  • The Bishop's Stortford High School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Bishop's Stortford · CM23 4SH · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.1
    • P80.2
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence5.5%

    2.1 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Sam Griffin
Telephone
01279655936
Website
http://www.birchwoodonline.co.uk/

Official links