Academy sponsor led · Hertfordshire

The Grove Academy

3–11Ages
473Pupils
PrimaryPhase
138507URN

Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

1.2 below Hertfordshire median (2.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire

81 applications for 59 places · 313th of 314 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

64%met the expected standard

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 20 May 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
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

1.4applications per place, Reception

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

81 applications · 59 places offered · 55 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2025 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2024 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2023 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2022 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2021 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2020 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2019 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2018 1.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
2017 1.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
2016 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.9
2015 1.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
2014 1.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.7

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 0 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	81	1.4	55	0.93
Sep 2025	59	76	1.3	50	0.85
Sep 2024	54	72	1.3	50	0.93
Sep 2023	55	76	1.4	51	0.93
Sep 2022	48	77	1.6	45	0.94
Sep 2021	55	79	1.4	49	0.89
Sep 2020	69	98	1.4	60	0.87
Sep 2019	79	101	1.3	72	0.91
Sep 2018	86	105	1.2	76	0.88
Sep 2017	84	98	1.2	57	0.68
Sep 2016	73	91	1.3	62	0.85
Sep 2015	62	87	1.4	52	0.84
Sep 2014	87	102	1.2	76	0.87

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 76% · Writing 73% · Maths 77% → all three 64% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard64%177th of 331 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard76%

Hertfordshire 80% England 78%

Higher standard30%

Hertfordshire 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard73%

Hertfordshire 75% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Hertfordshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard77%

Hertfordshire 79% England 77%

Higher standard27%

Hertfordshire 30% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (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	64%	0%	106	106
2023/24	54%	5%	103	103
2022/23	48%	3%	105	105

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

The Grove AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School
0.7 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2024

2.7applications per place
Parkgate Junior School
1.1 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding · concerns noted2024

58%met the SATs standard
Cherry Tree Primary School
1.3 km · Hertfordshire

Good2022

2.9applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Coates Way JMI and Nursery School
1.3 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Knutsford Primary Academy
1.4 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

3.0applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School
1.4 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

3.2applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Kingsway Junior School
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

Good2022

80%met the SATs standard
Kingsway Infants' School
1.6 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 138507 · 919/2035
Trust: Aspire Academies Trust
Capacity: 710 pupils · 473 on roll
Free school meals: 34.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2012
Replaced: Berrygrove Primary and Nursery School (URN 134684)
Address: Fourth Avenue, Watford, WD25 9RH
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Watford

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