Voluntary aided school · Hertfordshire

St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School

4–11Ages
149Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
117434URN

Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodNov 2012

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2022

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.4per place

0.8 above Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

65 applications for 19 places · 62nd of 314 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

91%met the expected standard

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodNov 2012

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2022

Inspection history

24 March 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
15 November 2012
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

3.4applications per place, Reception

0.8 above Hertfordshire median (2.6) 1.2 above England median (2.2)

65 applications · 19 places offered · 18 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 5.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 6.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 4.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 4.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 4.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.7

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 12 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	19	65	3.4	18	0.95
Sep 2025	20	83	4.2	18	0.90
Sep 2024	14	55	3.9	12	0.86
Sep 2023	19	94	5.0	19	1.00
Sep 2022	13	89	6.9	12	0.92
Sep 2021	14	63	4.5	12	0.86
Sep 2020	22	105	4.8	20	0.91
Sep 2019	22	101	4.6	29	1.32
Sep 2018	13	49	3.8	7	0.54
Sep 2017	22	72	3.3	21	0.95
Sep 2016	19	57	3.0	10	0.53
Sep 2015	22	55	2.5	15	0.68
Sep 2014	22	65	3.0	22	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 100% · Writing 95% · Maths 95% → all three 91% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard91%4th of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard100%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard86%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 114 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard95%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth9%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard95%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard64%

Hertfordshire 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 110 (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	91%	5%	114	110
2023/24	68%	4%	109	107
2022/23	79%	8%	109	109

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

St Nicholas CofE VA Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2022

3.4applications per place 91%met the SATs standard
Harpenden Academy
0.4 km · Hertfordshire

Improved significantly2025

3.5applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
St Dominic Catholic Primary School
0.8 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

2.1applications per place
Roundwood Primary School
1.0 km · Hertfordshire

2026

4.2applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Manland Primary School
1.0 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good · improving2024

4.7applications per place 91%met the SATs standard
Crabtree Infants' School
1.2 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2024

4.3applications per place
Crabtree Junior School
1.2 km · Hertfordshire

Outstanding2023

86%met the SATs standard
The Lea Primary School and Nursery
1.4 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.6applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
High Beeches Primary School
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2023

3.8applications per place 80%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 aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 117434 · 919/3336
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 154 pupils · 149 on roll
Free school meals: 4.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TP
Local authority: Hertfordshire · St Albans

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