This schoolOther primary schools in Hertfordshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 5 February 2025Ungraded inspection: Improved significantly
- 6 June 2019Graded 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 entry105 applications · 30 places offered · 30 named it first
- 2026 3.5; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
- 2025 3.0; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
- 2024 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
- 2023 3.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
- 2022 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
- 2021 3.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
- 2020 4.2; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
- 2019 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 2.8
- 2018 2.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.7
- 2017 3.1; Hertfordshire median median 2.6
- 2016 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 2.9; as the previous school
- 2015 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 2.8; as the previous school
- 2014 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 2.7; as the previous school
- This school
- Hertfordshire median
Dashed bars: as Harpenden Free School (URN 138561), the previous school.
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 | 30 | 105 | 3.5 | 30 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2025 | 29 | 86 | 3.0 | 25 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2024 | 27 | 113 | 4.2 | 25 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2023 | 30 | 100 | 3.3 | 28 | 0.93 |
| Sep 2022 | 29 | 123 | 4.2 | 24 | 0.83 |
| Sep 2021 | 27 | 106 | 3.9 | 22 | 0.81 |
| Sep 2020 | 29 | 122 | 4.2 | 23 | 0.79 |
| Sep 2019 | 28 | 65 | 2.3 | 18 | 0.64 |
| Sep 2018 | 19 | 53 | 2.8 | 18 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2017 | 22 | 67 | 3.1 | 19 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2016 * | 36 | 88 | 2.4 | 24 | 0.67 |
| Sep 2015 * | 58 | 103 | 1.8 | 28 | 0.48 |
| Sep 2014 * | 60 | 116 | 1.9 | 34 | 0.57 |
How did pupils do in SATs?
DfE KS2 · 2024/25Reading 91% · Writing 88% · Maths 81% → all three 81% met the expected standard, End of Year 6
- This school
- Hertfordshire median
- England median
Every year as a table
| Year | Expected standard | Higher standard | Reading score | Maths score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 81% | 19% | 110 | 106 |
| 2023/24 | 82% | 12% | 108 | 108 |
| 2022/23 | 79% | 27% | 110 | 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
- Harpenden AcademyThis schoolThis schoolImproved significantly20253.5applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
- 0.4 km · HertfordshireRemains Good20223.4applications per place 91%met the SATs standard
- 0.5 km · HertfordshireOutstanding20232.1applications per place
- 0.9 km · HertfordshireOutstanding20244.3applications per place
- 0.9 km · HertfordshireOutstanding202386%met the SATs standard
- 0.9 km · HertfordshireRemains Good · improving20244.7applications per place 91%met the SATs standard
- 1.2 km · HertfordshireRemains Outstanding20233.8applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
- 1.3 km · Hertfordshire20264.2applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
- 1.4 km · HertfordshireRemains Good202282%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
- Free schools
- Phase
- Primary
- URN · DfE number
- 143648 · 919/2060
- Free school meals
- 5.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2016
- Replaced
- Harpenden Free School (URN 138561)
- Address
- 25 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire · St Albans
Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources