Sustained Excellence at HT
We are proud to provide a high quality of education for our community, which was clearly identified by Ofsted in March 2022 when the school was rated Good, and we have continued to make sustained improvements to our school since our inspection.
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!
Awards for Exceptional Education – July 2025
We were accredited for having an excellent climate for learning and wellbeing provision for students by the SSAT, 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 4 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.
Best exam results in the school’s history for Year 11 students
Our Year 11 students achieved the best ever exam results in summer 2023, with very strong results again in summer 2024, and then the best ever GCSE Maths and English results in 2025.
Higher student attendance than national benchmarks
Student attendance has been in the top 25% of all secondary schools in England in the last 2 years, and recently in the top 10% of similar secondary schools in England.
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.
A Level and Vocational qualifications
Strong performance in A Level, BTEC and other vocational qualifications in Year 13, with the schools best ever results in vocational qualifications in 2025, and in A Level results in 2024.
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 Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and the USA prior to the pandemic. We have also added a new trip to Uganda with Haileybury Youth Trust.
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
