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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 117555

Townsend Church of England School

Voluntary aided school · St Albans · AL3 6DR

Ages 11–18 · 746 pupils · Hertfordshire

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

48.2

Overall absence

12.3%

Admissions demand

0.78 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-03-06

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+0.14
−20+2
Attainment 848.2
English & maths grade 5+51%
English & maths grade 4+68%
EBacc entry14%

EBacc APS: 4.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence12.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)35.3%
Unauthorised2.5%
Authorised absence
9.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
8.5%
Enrolments in measure
768

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.78 · Often has places

1st preferences

68

Places offered

145

1st-preference offers

68

Total preferences (any rank)
225
Preferred offers (top 3)
97
Applications from outside LA
23
Offers to outside-LA applicants
15
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill87%

746 pupils · 853 places

Pupils on roll
746
Boys / girls
386 / 360
School capacity
853
Capacity fill
746 / 853 (87%)
Free school meals
26.4%
FSM pupils
169
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of St Albans
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Anthony Flack

Location

Address
High Oaks
Postcode
AL3 6DR
Town
St Albans
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Hertfordshire
District
St Albans
Constituency
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
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 voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, 746 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 26.4%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of St Albans.

Open schools in St Albans
59
Secondary schools in St Albans
8
Academies among open schools in St Albans
37% (22)
Open schools in AL3
18
Secondary in AL3
2
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 St AlbansNear AL3

  • St Albans Girls' School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL3 6DB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.6
    • P80.6
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence7.1%

    0.5 miles away

  • Sandringham School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 9NX · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att864.6
    • P81.1
    • EM5+82%
    • Absence5.2%

    1.5 miles away

  • Loreto College

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 3RQ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.4
    • P80.7
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence7.5%

    1.6 miles away

  • Verulam School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 4PR · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.8
    • P80.4
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.7 miles away

  • Beaumont School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 0XB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.0
    • P80.9
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence5.2%

    2.3 miles away

  • The Marlborough Science Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 2QA · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att844.1
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence9.7%

    2.5 miles away

  • Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 0TT · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att854.4
    • P80.8
    • EM5+59%
    • Absence5.1%

    3.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Anthony Flack
Telephone
01727853047
Website
http://www.townsend.herts.sch.uk/

Official links