SchoolScoresChater Infant School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Chater Infant School, Southsea Avenue, Watford, WD18 7RD
01923 221060 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 29 January 2019.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 3 July 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
54 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Watford comparisons use the 19 of its 36 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 17 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 | Watford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 8th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 7th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 5th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 10th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 31% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 58% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern 11th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 39% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 83% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 89% | 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. Watford figures pool parents at the Watford 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 58 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 60 |
| Of those, offered a place | 49 (82%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 156 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 23rd highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.4% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 16th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 96.9% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 31st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 18% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 25th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 33% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 26th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 28th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 80% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.3 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 33rd highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 12% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 85% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 26.3% | 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
- Chater Junior School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lanchester Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2017), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Laurance Haines School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Watford St John's CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Anthony's Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ascot Road Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Field Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2024 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Watford Field School (Infant and Nursery) 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention
- Central Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Willow Tree Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 33% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Chater Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Chater Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 3 July 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Would parents recommend Chater Infant School?
94% of the 54 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Chater Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Chater Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 60 families put Chater Infant School as their first choice for 58 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 49 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 117159.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.