Sustained Excellence at HT

We are proud to provide a high quality of education for our local community, which was clearly identified by Ofsted in April 2026 when the school was rated at the Strong Standard for Attendance and behaviour, Inclusion, and Personal development and wellbeing.

Here are some examples of the excellence on offer for our community. We always welcome visits from interested families to see us in action. We would love to show you around!

Best exam results in the school’s history for Year 11 and Year 13 students

Year 11 and Year 13 students the best results in the school’s history in Summer 2026 – in GCSE, vocational qualifications and in A Levels.

3 Awards for Exceptional Education – July 2025 and April 2026

We were accredited for having an excellent climate for learning and wellbeing provision for students by the SSAT, and exceptional professional learning for staff, recognising our practice is amongst the most exceptional nationally.

Artsmark Gold and Lead School for Music

We were awarded with the prestigious Artsmark Gold Award for the quality of our creative and performing arts provision, and accredited as 1 of 10 Lead Schools for Music in Hertfordshire in 2025.

The Award for Making a Difference – Secondary School of the Year 2024

We were awarded with a Certificate of Excellence in the Pearson National Teaching Awards in 2024.

National Headteacher of the Year Award in a Secondary School 2023

Mr Newman was awarded the Silver Award in the Pearson National Teaching Awards in 2023.

Brand new building to enhance learning opened in September 2021

We opened our brand-new state of the art building, with 12 new classrooms, 3 new science laboratories, an additional sixth form teaching room, and a large library.

HT to benefit from the government’s School Rebuilding Programme

The rest of our school buildings, including sports facilities, will be re-built over the next 3 years.

Year 7 has been oversubscribed for the last 5 years

A greater number of applications and places continue to be offered for Year 7 reflecting the confidence in the quality of education at HT.

Higher student attendance than national benchmarks

Student attendance is consistently above the national level for all secondary schools in England and in the top 25% of similar secondary schools.

Post Year 13 destinations

Students are successful in reaching their first-choice universities and apprenticeships, including places at the University of Oxford, King’s College London, Imperial College London, the University of Nottingham and the University of Warwick.  There has been a big increase in students successfully applying for Degree Apprenticeships.

Opportunities to travel to Australia and Uganda

Our sixth formers have the opportunity to travel to Australia and Uganda; both trips are fully funded and there is no cost to students.

 

Student personal development and wellbeing

Significant and high-quality pastoral support for all students, to support personal development and wellbeing.  We were awarded HFL Education’s Wellbeing Quality Mark in June 2024 for our work with students.

Partnership with Haileybury

Increased opportunities for students, including Latin, masterclasses, membership of Combined Cadet Force, use of climbing wall and other sporting facilities.  Our students also benefit from participating in activities in Haileybury’s new SciTech building.

Partnership with partner primary schools

Increased links with Brookland Junior School and other local primary schools.

Co-curricular clubs and activities, trips and visits

Increased range of opportunities for students, including trips to London, across the UK and further afield, including our ski trip to Italy.

Staffing

Low staff turnover, and well-qualified, specialist teaching staff across all subject areas.

Funding

Very secure funding, with reserves being used to improve our facilities and learning resources further.  Funding is enhanced as a result of our partnership with Haileybury, and from community fundraising

We would love to show you around HT, and help you find out more about our wonderful HT community