School Chooser

The Grange Academy

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy928 pupilsSixth formBusheyHertfordshire
School Chooser Score
26
Below
similar schools
Likely range 19 to 36
Out of 100. Better than 34% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, November 2024
Strong pass in English and maths32%England 46%
Attendance89.8%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families26%About the same as most schools in England
Pupils per teacher15.2School workforce census
Average A level gradeC+2024/25

The Grange Academy is a sponsored academy in Bushey for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 928 pupils. About 26 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 26 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 34% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.

London Road, Bushey, WD23 3AA020 8950 9502thegrange.futureacademies.orgMr Bryan Young headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 12 November 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

171 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score41.3
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths32%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths56%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.29In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 38.638.620182019: 39.039.020192022: 42.442.420222023: 36.836.820232024: 37.637.620242025: 41.341.32025
Since 2018: +2.7Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320222019†2018†HertfordshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11171169182183194152
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 841.337.636.842.439.038.650.946.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.29-0.28-0.37-0.65-0.46
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths32%33%30%38%34%26%53%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths56%54%51%62%56%47%72%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.933.383.293.783.513.514.584.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry62%46%46%37%62%49%47%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged34.628.828.837.730.333.0
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged45.340.038.643.842.541.0
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers27.025.432.616.727.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers61.651.354.252.751.7

† These results are for The Bushey Academy, the school this one replaced in February 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Subjects

Results came out for 20 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Spanish88%grades 9 to 5, England 54%
Classical Civilisation79%grades 9 to 5, England 58% · 12th of 45 schools
History68%grades 9 to 5, England 52% · 575th of 3,126 schools

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Food Preparation & Nutrition (15% here, 52% across England), Business (17% here, 51% across England), Art and Design (33% here, 58% across England), Mathematics (35% here, 53% across England).

What is taught hereOffers 3 languages, computer science, music, classics.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
English Language168 entries · 62nd of 78 in Hertfordshire
46%England 54%
Mathematics167 entries · 75th of 78 in Hertfordshire
35%England 53%
Combined Science157 entries · 35th of 77 in Hertfordshire
42%England 36%
English Literature152 entries · 45th of 78 in Hertfordshire
59%England 58%
Geography122 entries · 62nd of 77 in Hertfordshire
40%England 51%
Business70 entries · 62nd of 63 in Hertfordshire
17%England 51%
Latin69 entries · 3rd of 5 in Hertfordshire
77%England 82%
Art and Design45 entries · 70th of 72 in Hertfordshire
33%England 58%
Physical Education44 entries · 40th of 53 in Hertfordshire
46%England 56%
French37 entries · 38th of 58 in Hertfordshire
65%England 60%
History31 entries · 27th of 76 in Hertfordshire
68%England 52%
Food Preparation & Nutrition27 entries · 39th of 39 in Hertfordshire
15%England 52%
Music26 entries · 17th of 19 in Hertfordshire
42%England 61%
Computer Science25 entries · 48th of 54 in Hertfordshire
40%England 56%
Classical Civilisation24 entries · 1st of 5 in Hertfordshire
79%England 58%
47%England 60%
35%England 49%
Spanish17 entries
88%England 54%
Social Studies13 entries
46%England 54%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
English Language16812%46%66%54%2,138 of 3,210
Mathematics1677%35%61%53%2,773 of 3,211
Combined Science1578%42%68%36%981 of 3,084
English Literature15213%59%78%58%1,362 of 3,202
Geography12212%40%57%51%2,110 of 3,116
Business701%17%43%51%1,715 of 1,806
Latin6945%77%83%82%49 of 68
Art and Design457%33%73%58%2,440 of 2,818
Physical Education447%46%64%56%1,052 of 1,559
French3724%65%76%60%909 of 1,974
History3119%68%74%52%575 of 3,126
Food Preparation & Nutrition274%15%41%52%1,054 of 1,098
Music2619%42%62%61%296 of 395
Computer Science2524%40%48%56%1,344 of 1,861
Classical Civilisation2433%79%83%58%12 of 45
Religious Studies1911%47%63%60%
Other Modern Languages1724%35%35%49%
Spanish1753%88%100%54%
Social Studies130%46%77%54%
Drama911%56%89%60%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

58 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+32.9 points per entry
A level progress+0.49Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better10%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished97%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232022
Students58747577
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry32.8925.9927.2732.21
Average A level gradeC+C-C-C+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS34.3326.8726.0830.85
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects10%0%0%5%
A level progressA level value added+0.49-0.09
Applied general courses: points per entry28.9726.4327.0830.79
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed97%87%93%100%

A level subjects

11 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Law58%A* to B, England 40% · 12 entries
Physical Education / Sports Studies58%A* to B, England 41% · 12 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsPsychology19Physical Education / Sports Studies12Law12English Literature11Business Studies11Mathematics8History7Government and Politics7Sociology7Chemistry6Physics6
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Psychology19 entries · 16% A* or A · 100% passed
42%England 46%
Physical Education / Sports Studies12 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
58%England 41%
Law12 entries · 0% A* or A · 92% passed
58%England 40%
English Literature11 entries · 18% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 52%
Business Studies11 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
46%England 47%
Mathematics8 entries · 25% A* or A · 88% passed
38%England 60%
History7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
29%England 55%
Government and Politics7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 55%
Sociology7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
14%England 49%
Chemistry6 entries · 17% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 53%
Physics6 entries · 17% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 51%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
34.645.3
Gap 10.7England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
27%36%
Gap 9 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
37.544.7
Gap 7.2England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Plenty of spare places940 pupils for 1,350 places, 2024/25
70% full

410 places were empty (30% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Hertfordshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll928Census January 2026
Pupils from low-income families25%26% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English25%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support12%115 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%26 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.237 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils11%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)30%£280,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls474 / 454
White British pupils43%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (39), Specific learning difficulty (34), Autistic spectrum disorder (19), language and communications needs (18), Moderate learning difficulty (17), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (7).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll9289349829849751,080
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals25%26%27%24%18%17%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language25%27%25%24%21%19%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support11%10%9%13%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%2%1%1%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 89.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance89.8%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school31.3%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils35.92024/25, 2 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission4.3%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence10.2%8.6%9.0%8.8%5.2%6.9%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.9%4.7%4.5%5.1%3.4%3.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence4.3%4.0%4.5%3.7%1.8%3.1%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence31.3%24.8%27.6%27.8%12.7%19.2%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate35.916.812.215.010.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions20433

† These attendance figures are for The Bushey Academy, the school this one replaced in February 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 182 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training87%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 74%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers
Still in education, work or training87%91%93%
Education84%86%89%
Apprenticeship1%1%1%
Work2%4%4%
Not in education, work or training9%6%5%

After sixth form

Where the 68 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training85%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 83%, compared with 86% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training74%England 72%
Top-third universities13%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship6%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 94% went on to degree-level study or training and 13% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers
Still in education, work or training85%96%93%
Education54%69%65%
Apprenticeship6%4%3%
Work25%23%26%
Not in education, work or training7%3%7%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers61.2full-time equivalent, 62 people
Pupils per teacher15.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers76%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£47,915
Teachers who left in the year37%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher7.02024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,595England £7,965. Total £8.0m
Income per pupil£8,797England £8,423. Total £8.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,418England £4,444
Money in reserve12%A healthy amount put by: £998k, £1,067 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£189kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,595spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m13812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate61 per 1,000 people34% lower than the England average
Typical house price£540,000Hertsmere
Nearest bus stop90 mThe Grange Academy, 11 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Queens' SchoolAcademy0.8 miles1,697No overall grade 202588Compare
Bushey Meads SchoolAcademy0.9 miles1,200No overall grade 20258Compare
Watford Grammar School for GirlsAcademy1.3 miles1,427Outstanding 202492Compare
Westfield AcademyAcademy2.0 miles1,331No overall grade 202436Compare
Watford Grammar School for BoysAcademy2.0 miles1,590Report card 202694Compare
Bentley Wood High SchoolAcademy2.6 miles1,393Outstanding 202390Compare
Croxley Danes SchoolFree school2.7 miles1,049Report card 202662Compare
Hatch End High SchoolAcademy2.8 miles1,226Good 202448Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares The Grange Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats34%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 26 is 7 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 5 · middle 33 · highest 83100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than The Grange Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Churchmead Church of England (VA) SchoolChurch of England14.3 miles681No overall grade 202452Compare
The Westgate SchoolAcademy14.4 miles1,273No overall grade 202533Compare
Goffs - Churchgate AcademyAcademy14.4 miles582Report card 202643Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 26 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 26% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 19 to 36. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.15
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 171 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 1.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.10
DfE progress measure; 171 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.02
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.07
2024/25; 891 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.04
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 171 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.04
182 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is The Grange Academy a good school?

The figures are weak. The Grange Academy scores 26 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 34% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 19 to 36, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is The Grange Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated The Grange Academy not judged at its last full inspection on 12 November 2024.

How good are The Grange Academy's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 32% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 41.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does The Grange Academy have?

928 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026.

Is The Grange Academy oversubscribed?

Probably not. 410 places were empty in 2024/25 (30% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at The Grange Academy?

Pupils were in school 89.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 31% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at The Grange Academy?

The average class had 22.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 11% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does The Grange Academy have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 11 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
London Road, Bushey, WD23 3AA
Telephone
020 8950 9502
Website
www.thegrange.futureacademies.org
Headteacher
Mr Bryan Young
Type of school
Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Future Academies (11 schools)
Local authority
Hertfordshire
Ward
Bushey St James
Constituency
Hertsmere
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 February 2020 (fresh start)
URN
147785 · LAESTAB 9194036 · UKPRN 10085444
Formerly
The Bushey Academy

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from