Townsend Church of England School
Secondary · Voluntary aided school · Ages 11–18 · St Albans, Hertfordshire
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Hertfordshire County Council · offers on 2 March 2026
Unlock every school · £9.99 Open on the map →Townsend Church of England School is a secondary school in St Albans, Hertfordshire for ages 11–18 (voluntary aided school). Its latest Ofsted outcome is School remains Good, from the inspection on 24 January 2024. Hertfordshire has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2015 to 2026 entry.
Townsend Church of England School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2025 | Not published |
| Year 7 2024 | Not published |
| Year 7 2023 | Not published |
| Year 7 2022 | Not published |
| Year 7 2021 | Not published |
| Year 7 2020 | Not published |
| Year 7 2019 | Not published |
| Year 7 2018 | Not published |
| Year 7 2017 | Not published |
| Year 7 2016 | Not published |
| Year 7 2015 | Not published |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- 24.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, against a middle figure of 11.6% across the 8 nearest secondary schools in Hertfordshire.
- Every applicant was offered a Year 7 place in 2026, with 80 first-choice applications for 168 offers and 88 offers to families who ranked it second or lower.
- In 2024/25, 40% got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), 2nd lowest of 9 schools: this one and the 8 nearest secondary schools in Hertfordshire.
- At A level in 2024/25 the average grade was C- (England B-), and progress from GCSE to A level was average.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Hertfordshire schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- High Oaks, St Albans, AL3 6DR
- Type
- Voluntary aided school
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–18
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- Pupils on roll
- 746 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 24.4% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 13.4
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
School remains Good Inspected 24 January 2024
Strengths
- “At Townsend, such difficulties are uncommon.”
- “All are made to feel safe, welcomed and valued.”
- “This makes most pupils happy to be at school and able to build good friendships.”
To improve
- “While misbehaviour from a small number sometimes frustrates other pupils, it is dealt with fairly.”
- “Lessons are orderly, although pupils sometimes do not have opportunities to practise and apply their skills and knowledge.”
- “Although they are expected to complete work and pass their examinations, pupils do not always think as deeply as they might.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 7 March 2024 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 40% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 46.7 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | C- | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 80 first-preference applications, 168 offers in total, 80 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Hertfordshire.
- St Albans Girls' School 0.5 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Sandringham School 1.5 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- Loreto College 1.6 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Verulam School 1.7 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Beaumont School 2.3 mi Not judged Last distance published
- The Marlborough Science Academy 2.5 mi Good Last distance published
- Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School 2.9 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- Sir John Lawes School 3.4 mi Outstanding Last distance published
More in Hertfordshire
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