Community school · Hertfordshire

Abel Smith School

3–11Ages
226Pupils
PrimaryPhase
117111URN

Churchfields, Greencoates, Hertford, SG13 8AE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

6.1per place

3.5 above Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

177 applications for 29 places · 1st of 314 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

55%met the expected standard

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 9 July 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

6.1applications per place, Reception

3.5 above Hertfordshire median (2.6) 3.9 above England median (2.2)

177 applications · 29 places offered · 32 named it first

2026 6.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 7.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 5.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 6.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 6.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 7.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 6.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 7.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 6.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 6.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 7.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 8.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 6.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Hertfordshire median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	29	177	6.1	32	1.10
Sep 2025	29	206	7.1	46	1.59
Sep 2024	30	158	5.3	21	0.70
Sep 2023	28	188	6.7	31	1.11
Sep 2022	30	189	6.3	24	0.80
Sep 2021	30	221	7.4	35	1.17
Sep 2020	30	186	6.2	38	1.27
Sep 2019	30	210	7.0	40	1.33
Sep 2018	30	185	6.2	41	1.37
Sep 2017	30	198	6.6	46	1.53
Sep 2016	30	228	7.6	34	1.13
Sep 2015	30	243	8.1	57	1.90
Sep 2014	30	208	6.9	56	1.87

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 83% · Writing 72% · Maths 66% → all three 55% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard55%245th of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard83%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard31%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard72%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth21%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard66%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard31%

Hertfordshire 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	55%	17%	105	104
2023/24	73%	13%	108	106
2022/23	73%	13%	107	108

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Abel Smith SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

6.1applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
Mill Mead Primary Academy
0.9 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2025

4.4applications per place
Morgans Primary School & Nursery
0.9 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.3applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Wheatcroft Primary School
1.3 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

1.8applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
Bengeo Primary School
1.6 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

2.3applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford)
1.6 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2024

2.5applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
Hollybush Primary School
1.9 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.0applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
Hertford St Andrew CofE Primary School
2.2 km · Hertfordshire

Some aspects not as strong2024

1.5applications per place
Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery School
2.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2022

2.2applications per place 36%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 117111 · 919/2050
Capacity: 240 pupils · 226 on roll
Free school meals: 9.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Churchfields, Greencoates, Hertford, SG13 8AE
Local authority: Hertfordshire · East Hertfordshire

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources