SchoolScoresHollybush Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Fordwich Rise, Hertford, SG14 2DF
01992 581454 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 28 January 2025, 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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
53 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Hertford comparisons use the 12 of its 14 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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 | Hertford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 11th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 11th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 83% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 22 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 19% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 41% | 38% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 10th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 16% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 14 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 45% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 60% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 10th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertford. Higher than 18% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 26%). 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. Hertford figures pool parents at the Hertford 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
25 pupils in this year group.
32% — 32 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 30 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 32% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 52% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 44% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 99 | 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 | 20 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 15 |
| Of those, offered a place | 15 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 39 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
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 2nd highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.4% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 93% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.3% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.6% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 8% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 15.2 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 14th highest of 14 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 5% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.0 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Hertford. Higher than 91% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 31.7% | 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
- Hertford St Andrew CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2024
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford) 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hertford Prep 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Mill Mead Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Duncombe School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Bengeo Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Morgans Primary School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abel Smith School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wheatcroft Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Hollybush Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 28 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Hollybush Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 32% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 30 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Hollybush Primary School?
79% of the 53 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Hollybush Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Hollybush Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 15 families put Hollybush Primary School as their first choice for 20 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 15 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 117263.
- 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.