SchoolScoresBernards Heath Junior School
Community school · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed
Watson Avenue, St Albans, AL3 5HP
01727 856262 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 December 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
144 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
St Albans comparisons use the 24 of its 39 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 15 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | St Albans | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 16th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 15th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 12th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied 11th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 54% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 100 parents who had raised a concern Joint 13th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 83% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 12th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Albans. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. St Albans figures pool parents at the St Albans schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
90 pupils in this year group.
78% — 14 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 17% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 84% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 111 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hertfordshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 30th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 26th highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.9% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 23rd lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 63% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 78% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 59% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 1st highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 96% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.7 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 39 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 94% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.5 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Albans. Higher than 53% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 13.1% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Bernards Heath Infant and Nursery School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- Garden Fields Junior Mixed and Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Maple Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 93% met expected standard (KS2)
- Margaret Wix Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alban City School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheatfields Junior Mixed School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 87% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheatfields Infants' and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fleetville Infant and Nursery School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bernards Heath Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Bernards Heath Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 December 2023.
How did Bernards Heath Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 16 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Bernards Heath Junior School?
94% of the 144 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Bernards Heath Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 117143.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.