Community school · Hertfordshire

Samuel Lucas Primary School

4–11Ages
416Pupils
PrimaryPhase
117337URN

Gaping Lane, Hitchin, SG5 2JQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.6per place

1.0 above Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

214 applications for 59 places · 50th of 314 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

75%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 · 3 October 2023Ofsted'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

3.6applications per place, Reception

1.0 above Hertfordshire median (2.6) 1.4 above England median (2.2)

214 applications · 59 places offered · 68 named it first

2026 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 4.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 3.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 3.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 3.3; 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	59	214	3.6	68	1.15
Sep 2025	59	228	3.9	88	1.49
Sep 2024	59	258	4.4	87	1.47
Sep 2023	60	214	3.6	74	1.23
Sep 2022	60	209	3.5	69	1.15
Sep 2021	60	192	3.2	66	1.10
Sep 2020	60	212	3.5	55	0.92
Sep 2019	60	201	3.4	73	1.22
Sep 2018	60	220	3.7	77	1.28
Sep 2017	60	209	3.5	75	1.25
Sep 2016	60	227	3.8	83	1.38
Sep 2015	60	213	3.6	64	1.07
Sep 2014	60	199	3.3	78	1.30

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 90% · Writing 83% · Maths 80% → all three 75% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard75%81st of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard90%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard61%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth31%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard80%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard46%

Hertfordshire 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (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	75%	25%	110	107
2023/24	70%	15%	107	105
2022/23	70%	22%	109	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

Samuel Lucas Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Outstanding2023

3.6applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy
0.5 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2024

70%met the SATs standard
Oughton Primary and Nursery School
0.7 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.1applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Highbury Infant School and Nursery
1.1 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2022

2.9applications per place
Strathmore Infant and Nursery School
1.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place
St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.4applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Our Lady Catholic Primary School
1.6 km · Hertfordshire

Good2022

2.3applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Whitehill Junior School
1.7 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good · improving2023

72%met the SATs standard
William Ransom Primary School
1.9 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.9applications per place 78%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 117337 · 919/2428
Capacity: 420 pupils · 416 on roll
Free school meals: 5.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Gaping Lane, Hitchin, SG5 2JQ
Local authority: Hertfordshire · North Hertfordshire

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources