Voluntary controlled school · Hertfordshire

Essendon CofE (VC) Primary School

3–11Ages
77Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
117393URN

School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodApr 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2022

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

5.0per place

2.4 above Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

5 applications for 1 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

17%met the expected standard

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodApr 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2022

Inspection history

20 July 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
23 April 2013
Graded inspection: Good

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

5.0applications per place, Reception

2.4 above Hertfordshire median (2.6) 2.8 above England median (2.2)

5 applications · 1 places offered · 1 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.7

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 1 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	1	5	5.0	1	1.00
Sep 2025	9	21	2.3	7	0.78
Sep 2024	10	17	1.7	9	0.90
Sep 2023	8	18	2.3	7	0.88
Sep 2022	10	18	1.8	10	1.00
Sep 2021	12	20	1.7	8	0.67
Sep 2020	15	29	1.9	12	0.80
Sep 2019	14	20	1.4	11	0.79
Sep 2018	8	17	2.1	7	0.88
Sep 2017	8	15	1.9	8	1.00
Sep 2016	13	20	1.5	10	0.77
Sep 2015	11	21	1.9	7	0.64
Sep 2014	15	25	1.7	12	0.80

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 83% · Writing 50% · Maths 33% → all three 17% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard17%330th of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard83%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard33%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard50%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth8%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard33%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard8%

Hertfordshire 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 98 (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	17%	8%	107	98
2023/24	38%	0%	101	102
2022/23	38%	0%	104	99

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

Essendon CofE (VC) Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2022

5.0applications per place 17%met the SATs standard
Bayford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
3.1 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2025

2.5applications per place 23%met the SATs standard
Commonswood Primary & Nursery School
3.1 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

1.9applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School
3.4 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2024

2.6applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
Ponsbourne St Mary's Church of England Primary School
4.3 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2024

3.3applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Watchlytes Primary School
4.4 km · Hertfordshire

Special measures 2025

2.4applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
The Ryde School
4.4 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

2.3applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School
4.5 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Creswick Academy
4.6 km · Hertfordshire

Requires improvement2022

1.9applications per place 40%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: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 117393 · 919/3015
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 115 pupils · 77 on roll
Free school meals: 26.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Welwyn Hatfield

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