SchoolScoresPreston Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Back Lane, Preston, Hitchin, SG4 7UJ
01462 451734 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| 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
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Hitchin comparisons use the 13 of its 27 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 14 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 | Hitchin | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 6th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 9th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 94% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 91% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 87% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 7th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 93% | 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. Hitchin figures pool parents at the Hitchin 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
11 pupils in this year group.
27% — 37 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 35 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 27% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 27% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 55% | 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 | 7 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 6 |
| Of those, offered a place | 6 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 18 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 26th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.1% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 44% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.7% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. 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 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. 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 27th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 3% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 12.6 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 25th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 4% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 6.7 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Ippolyts CofE Aided Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Paul's Walden Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Breachwood Green Junior Mixed and Infant School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected, 1 needs attention · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitehill Junior School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed, may be improving 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highbury Infant School and Nursery 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022
- Wymondley Junior Mixed and Infant School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Offley Endowed Primary School and Nursery 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Preston Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Preston Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 February 2024.
How did Preston Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 35 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Preston Primary School?
94% of the 34 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Preston Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Preston Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 6 families put Preston Primary School as their first choice for 7 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 6 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 117403.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.