Hertswood's encouraging exam results and the enthusiasm of its pupils suggest it will soon become a school the town can be proud of, according to its headteacher.

This week Ian Lucas spoke of his pleasure at the progress that Hertswood has made since it was launched two years ago, to replace Borehamwood's old middle and upper schools.

The start of the current term brought up a milestone for Hertswood, as it was the first time it had been able to start an academic year with both of its premises in full use.

With a normal quota of 250 children joining the school last month, compared to the 600 who enrolled at the beginning of the previous two years, the school is now looking to the future.

Mr Lucas said: "It has been an interesting experience and a challenging few years.

"We are now off base camp and we are climbing fairly rapidly. We have solid foundations that we can build on."

Hertswood now has a total of 1,400 students, including a sixth form of 200 which has more than doubled in size since Hertswood opened in September 2000.

This year 37 per cent of Hertswood's GCSE students achieved at least five passes at grades A* to C, which represented an 11 per cent improvement on last year.

In terms of A Levels, the school's average pass rate, which refers to grades E and above, was 95.5 per cent this year, compared to a national average of 94.3 per cent.

Mr Lucas said: "The GCSE exam results were particularly pleasing, both our A to C grades and our A to G grades this shows that all our students are doing well."

He predicts that, by 2005, half of the school's GCSE pupils will get five or more A* to C passes, which would put Hertswood in line with the national average.

Exam results aside, Hertswood has come in for some criticism during its short life, particularly in terms of its pupil attendance record and allegations of bullying.

Mr Lucas admitted that the school had encountered difficulties, bringing together pupils from five different schools, but he stressed that there was now a positive atmosphere.

Communication between staff and parents was improving, and a parents and teachers' association (PTA) was being set up to organise events to raise extra funds.

"The vast majority of students are really keen to get on and work and they are co-operating well together," he said.

The school was taking a tough line on bullying, and pursuing a policy of expelling any pupil involved in a single violent incident.

Pupil attendance, which had been as low as 80 per cent in the past two years, was at 92 per cent and getting better, with assistance from parents.

Mr Lucas said: "It is important for the community to get behind the school and the school to get behind the community."

His vision is to put Hertswood at the centre of the local community, by opening it up as a meeting place for different local groups and organisations outside normal school hours.

October 1, 2002 17:00