SchoolScoresDownfield Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Downfield Road, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN8 8SS
01992 629598 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 19 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
46 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Waltham Cross comparisons use the 9 of its 18 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 9 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 | Waltham Cross | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 83% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 17% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 47% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 37 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 74% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 6th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Waltham Cross. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89%said yes | 80% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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. Waltham Cross figures pool parents at the Waltham Cross 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
54 pupils in this year group.
22% — 42 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 40 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 22% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 61% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 26% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 57% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 56 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 50 |
| Of those, offered a place | 50 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 99 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 12 places for other difficulties or disabilities; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 66% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 29.8% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.5% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.1% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 11th highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 56% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.1 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.9 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Waltham Cross. Higher than 42% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Wx) 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), improved significantly 2024 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Millbrook School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Burleigh Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Four Swannes Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brookland Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 3 expected · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brookland Infant and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024
- Dewhurst St Mary CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hurst Drive Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holdbrook Primary School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downfield Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 19 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Downfield Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 22% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 40 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Downfield Primary School?
89% of the 46 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Downfield Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Downfield Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 50 families put Downfield Primary School as their first choice for 56 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 50 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 117255.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.