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The Astley Cooper School
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Secondary

The Astley Cooper School

Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
19 Verified Reviews
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Verified Parents
2.3 /5

19 verified reviews

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About The Astley Cooper School

The Astley Cooper School is an 11-18 Secondary School on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. Our vision is to ensure that when students leave, they have become successful, well rounded and confident individuals prepared to succeed in the modern world.

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Key Facts

Head/Principal null

Rating Breakdown

Based on verified reviews
Safety & Security 1.9
Teaching Quality 2.1
Communication 2.2
Student Wellbeing 2.3
Facilities 1.9

School Workforce

Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025

Note: These figures are estimated based on national averages. Actual school-level data not yet available.
17.0:1
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Excellent
55.7
Teachers (FTE)

Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.

Secondary School Results (Key Stage 4)

Exam performance data • 2023-2024

37.2
Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 subjects
-0.60
Progress 8
Well below average
33.3%
English & Maths 9-5
Strong pass in both
48.8%
English & Maths 9-4
Standard pass in both

Additional Information

17.9% entered EBacc
9.5% achieved EBacc
168 pupils in cohort

Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables

Reviews 19

A
Anonymous
Parent Jan 4, 2026
1.0

"Racism"

it is absolutely a horrible school because even the principal is racist there. Racism is so expected there. It’s absolutely disgusting and the teachers are racist as well which I find crazy. they are so rude and absolutely disgusting I can’t believe they got hired
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Oct 1, 2024
1.0

"canteen problems"

food is so expensive and unhealthy, pupil premium persons get £2 a day for break and lunch. all substantial food items are over £2.30 which is also the limit for the pupil premium a day. how am i supposed to buy food. all i could afford is a little cake. they just want us to get fat at this point.
A
Anonymous
Parent Oct 1, 2024
1.0

"please don’t jeopardise your child’s mental health"

(please don’t put your child at risk by sending them here the astley cooper school is torture!) absolutely disgusting school, staff who’s jobs are specifically to protect the children won’t even give me a ring when my child’s threatened to harm themselves. selfish creeps if anything especially that osbourne, already one pedophile staff member has been outed yet no one will shut this circus down absolute chaos the teachers have no control of the classroom absolutely disgraceful. please don’t put your child at risk by sending them here the astley cooper school is torture !!!!
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Sep 4, 2024
1.0

"dreadful school, would not recommend"

astley is such a bad school, pedo teachers, theyve caged up the toilets now, phone pouches, mental health isnt taken care of, major bullying problem like i saw a kid almost get KILLED and they only expelled one person out the five that did it. i got jumped infront of everyone and it took them a month to expel the person who did it, not to mention the creepy teachers too. id give it a one star but i cant, would not recommend.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Jul 8, 2024
1.0

"Disgusting🤢"

This school tells girls to cover their body so they don’t distract boys. Outrageous 🤢🤢
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Jun 25, 2024
1.0

"WARNING"

Really bad teachers don’t do there jobs vapes drugs and more linked with other students (don’t send your child here)
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent May 21, 2024
1.0

"DONT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE"

Really bad now it use to be an okay school but now it’s the worst fights almost every day vaping drugs some of the worst teachers there that don’t know how to do there jobs adyfeild is better nicer people and yes there teachers actually do teach you (astley has a lot of bully’s and racism)
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Apr 27, 2024
5.0

"Astley cooper school"

This school has major safeguarding issues ,no communication from the school . Heads of the school have been involved in OFF ROLLING this is a common practice at this school .my children felt they were not safe and bullied to an extent of police involvement .
A
Anonymous
Parent Apr 24, 2024
1.0

"astley review"

bad teachers init , teachers dont know what their teaching themself
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Nov 6, 2023
2.0

"Astley cooper report"

It's not the best the bullying is terrible to the point were kids are leaving the school because of it and nothing is happing the teachers ain't got a clue what they r on about the food options r overpriced and overrated there's barely any vegetarian or vegan options the teacher are mean and ruthless so are the kids the one another
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 4/5
J
James H
Parent Aug 15, 2023
5.0

"A School that Truly Cares"

I've been impressed by the school's commitment to providing a comprehensive career-related curriculum and the opportunities they offer to engage with local businesses. My child is still young, but I can already see the positive impact the school's values are having on their development as a person. One thing I would say is that the facilities could use some updating, but overall, it's a great school.
Safety & Wellbeing 4/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 4/5
M
Michael T
Parent Jun 25, 2023
5.0

"A School that Truly Prepares Students for the Future"

My child is going to be leaving Astley Cooper soon, but I'm so proud of the person they've become. The school's pre-apprenticeship program has been a game-changer for them, and they've gained some fantastic work experience. The teachers are all supportive and genuinely care about the students' well-being. I couldn't ask for more from a school.
Safety & Wellbeing 5/5
Teaching & Learning 5/5
Communication 5/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5
Facilities 5/5
A
Anonymous
Parent May 15, 2023
1.0

"awful experience and heres why:"

majority of the time teachers dont even know what their talking about and teachers give detentions specifically to students they dislike or dont get along with. As a pupil its understandable teachers have favourites but its not okay for it to be projected openly. this makes students not want to come into that classroom, not put in effort, and just not come into school at all.
why else do you think attendance is so low?

safety & security;
literally 0 safety it is so so SO easy to walk out of those gates. All you have to do is click and the buzzer and your gone what type of security is that? the back gates are also easy for outsiders to jump INTO and pupils to jump OUT of.

indoor enviroment:
honestly disgusting. they have cleaners yet the whole school is disgusting and smoothered with gum and dirt.

foods & meals
Not many options for vegetarians or vegans.
Over-priced too.

outdoor enviroment:
they have a pretty good field however their should be alot more benches considering ( at the moment ) 500+ pupils are in the school itself.

activities:
there arent many sports acitivities or study groups you can join, you have to force yourself to like one or simply not join.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Apr 25, 2023
1.0

"Astley Cooper "

Astley Cooper school is horrible. I’m my experience it’s awful and I would rather be homeless than suffer that torture. There is so much drama and things that make you stressed out. The teachers cant teach cause they don’t speak the proper English language. They are making a new school and it’s chaos. Shut it down and run before it’s to late.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 1/5
R
Rhiannon M
Parent Feb 20, 2023
5.0

"Excellent School with a Great Atmosphere"

My child has been at Astley Cooper for a few years now and we've had a fantastic experience. The school's emphasis on respect, responsibility, and resilience really shines through in the way the teachers and staff interact with the children. They also offer a great pre-apprenticeship program that's helped my child gain valuable work experience.
Safety & Wellbeing 5/5
Teaching & Learning 5/5
Communication 5/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5
Facilities 5/5
S
Samantha W
Parent Jan 10, 2023
4.0

"A Decent School, Room for Improvement"

I have mixed feelings about Astley Cooper. On the one hand, my child had some great experiences and made good friends. The school's career guidance program was also helpful. However, I felt that the teachers could be more approachable and communicative, and the school could do more to engage with parents. Overall, it's an average school that could benefit from some improvements.
Safety & Wellbeing 4/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 4/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Dec 21, 2022
1.0

"my experience at astley cooper"

Astley cooper is below the standard . Teachers here project a positive atmosphere in the beginning and then as the school years pass they become worse. And by worse I don't mean " strict , picky , harsh " I mean by not being able to teach or support students when needed. Many of the teachers have quit due to the environment , negativity and poor income , and not only teachers. Various of my classmates have moved to a different school in year 8-9. ANY pupil that joined have admitted that they instantly regretted it.
This school made me feel so alone and out of place. the students here were awful and immature. Not to mention how the school is NOT diverse at all - their would be about 9 black people and 3 Asians in the whole year group.
This school is known for fights , homophobia , racism and so much more no matter how much you explain they pupils and teachers BOTH will not understand or even try to interpret where your coming from.
Whenever oxford would come they would always make stupid act and dress well purposely that day, they would also use tactics " always put your hand up if oxford is here 1 finger if u don't know the answer 5 fingers if u do ".
this school is full of show offs and disrespectful people. i don't recommend sending anyone here. It made my life a living hell.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 1/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Dec 9, 2020
2.0

"Not that great"

Support is next to none in this school. Most people in my class ended up dropping out before they could even sit their GCSEs. Also it appeared on the worst schools in the UK list. Science department doesnt have any working smoke alarms and the school is in a general state of disrepair.
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 1/5
Facilities 1/5
A
Anonymous
Parent Sep 18, 2020
4.0

"Alright "

It’s a good school, it has its ups and downs, depending on the teachers. I got my fair share of new teachers that had no idea what they were doing and ended up leaving the next year, which wasn’t amazing. However, there are some really solid teachers there that really know how to help students push themselves to their potential. It could do with a revamp, but I’m aware that a new building is being built there next summer so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue for long. A lot of drama from other students, but just steer clear of it and you will get on really well at this school.
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5
Facilities 3/5

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