Many children will be starting secondary school in the Stevenage area next September, and lots of parents will soon have choices to make about where to send them.

Applications for Year 7 places in the Stevenage area close on Thursday, October 31 so the deadline is approaching soon.

If you've not yet made your decision and are worried you are running out of time, you're in luck as we've rounded up the best-rated schools in the area.

Using Ofsted ratings, we've found the secondary schools rated the best under outstanding and good status.

The results are listed for the Stevenage area with each of the ratings correct as of October 17, 2024.

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Best-rated secondary schools in the Stevenage area according to Ofsted

Barnwell School

  • Location:  Barnwell, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 9SW
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 24 November 2021

Marriotts School

  • Location: Brittain Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8UT
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 17 January 2022

The Nobel School

  • Location: Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 0HS
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 13 September 2023

Barclay Academy

  • Location: Walkern Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3RB
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 15 June 2023

The Thomas Alleyne Academy

  • Location: High Street, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3BE
  • Rating: Good 
  • Date of report:  20 November 2019

The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

  • Location: Hitchin Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4AE
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 11 September 2024

For those willing to travel, these North Herts schools have also been highly marked by the education watchdog.

Hitchin Girls' School

  • Location: Highbury Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RS
  • Rating: Outstanding 
  • Date of report: 09 July 2013

Hitchin Boys' School

  • Location: Grammar School Walk, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1JB
  • Rating: Outstanding 
  • Date of report: 11 November 2021

The Knights Templar School

  • Location: Park Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 6DZ
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 16 June 2023

The Priory School

  • Location: Bedford Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 2UR
  • Rating: Good
  • Date of report: 22 November 2022