SchoolScoresCrabtree Infants' School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 7 · Mixed
Part of IVY LEARNING TRUST
Crabtree Lane, Harpenden, AL5 5PU
01582 623597 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 7 February 2024.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
169 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Harpenden comparisons use the 9 of its 13 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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 | Harpenden | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 97% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 88% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 96% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 30 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 58% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 104 parents who had raised a concern Joint 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 89% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 87% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harpenden. Higher than 87% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99%said yes | 94% | 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. Harpenden figures pool parents at the Harpenden 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 76 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 255 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.4 · 2026: 1.3
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 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.0% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Lower than 99% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Lower than 99% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 57% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.2 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 25% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.3 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Harpenden. Higher than 84% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 25.6% | 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
- Crabtree Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 86% met expected standard (KS2)
- High Beeches Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Dominic Catholic Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023, before conversion) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Grove Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- Harpenden Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Grove Infant and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Manland Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 91% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 91% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sauncey Wood Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Hilda's School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Crabtree Infants' School's Ofsted rating?
Crabtree Infants' School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 February 2024.
Would parents recommend Crabtree Infants' School?
99% of the 169 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Crabtree Infants' School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Crabtree Infants' School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 76 families put Crabtree Infants' School as their first choice for 60 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 59 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 140707.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.