SchoolScoresSacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Merry Hill Road, Bushey, WD23 1SU
01923 901179 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 June 2013.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
44 pupils in this year group.
77% — 13 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 14% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 91% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 50 |
| Of those, offered a place | 42 (84%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 117 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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 Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.3% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 66% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.8% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 3rd lowest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.2% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 29% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.7 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 93% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Bushey. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Bushey Manor Junior School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bushey and Oxhey Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Bournehall Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashfield Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Little Reddings Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2023 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longwood School 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Bromet Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Merry Hill Infant School and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Field Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2024 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Watford Field School (Infant and Nursery) 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 June 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 50 families put Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery as their first choice for 45 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 42 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 117488.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.