Academy converter · Hertfordshire

Applecroft School

3–11Ages
454Pupils
PrimaryPhase
137943URN

Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.3per place

0.7 above Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

199 applications for 60 places · 69th of 314 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

78%met the expected standard

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 28 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		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

3.3applications per place, Reception

0.7 above Hertfordshire median (2.6) 1.1 above England median (2.2)

199 applications · 60 places offered · 69 named it first

2026 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 3.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 3.7; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 4.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 4.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 4.4; 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	60	199	3.3	69	1.15
Sep 2025	59	216	3.7	82	1.39
Sep 2024	59	227	3.9	90	1.53
Sep 2023	59	224	3.8	98	1.66
Sep 2022	59	225	3.8	77	1.31
Sep 2021	59	251	4.3	90	1.53
Sep 2020	59	219	3.7	68	1.15
Sep 2019	60	257	4.3	97	1.62
Sep 2018	60	234	3.9	84	1.40
Sep 2017	58	235	4.1	80	1.38
Sep 2016	60	260	4.3	96	1.60
Sep 2015	60	245	4.1	87	1.45
Sep 2014	60	264	4.4	85	1.42

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 86% · Writing 81% · Maths 81% → all three 78% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard78%57th of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard86%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard53%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard81%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth27%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard81%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard39%

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	78%	20%	108	107
2023/24	75%	23%	110	108
2022/23	60%	12%	105	103

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

Applecroft SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

3.3applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
St John's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, Lemsford
1.0 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

3.6applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Peartree Primary School
1.4 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2025

4.4applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Our Lady Catholic Primary School
1.4 km · Hertfordshire

2026

3.0applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Templewood Primary School
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

4.3applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Creswick Academy
1.6 km · Hertfordshire

Requires improvement2022

1.9applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
Holwell Primary School
1.7 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.7applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Swallow Dell Primary and Nursery School
2.3 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Homerswood Primary and Nursery School
2.4 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 62%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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 137943 · 919/2454
Trust: Applecroft School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 450 pupils · 454 on roll
Free school meals: 9.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 March 2012
Replaced: Applecroft School (URN 117355)
Address: Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JZ
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Welwyn Hatfield

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