SchoolScoresSamuel Lucas Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Gaping Lane, Hitchin, SG5 2JQ
01462 456737 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 3 October 2023.
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
131 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
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 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 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 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 94% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 34 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 24% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 53% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 91 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 76% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 87% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%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
59 pupils in this year group.
75% — 11 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 25% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 80% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 56 (82%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 214 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.5 · 2025: 1.5 · 2026: 1.2
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 24th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 12th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.7% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 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 3rd highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 80% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.3 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 81% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.8 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 22nd highest of 26 state primary schools in Hitchin. 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
- Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oughton Primary and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highbury Infant School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022
- Strathmore Infant and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023
- St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitehill Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed, may be improving 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Ransom Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highover Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ickleford Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Samuel Lucas Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Samuel Lucas Primary School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2023.
How did Samuel Lucas Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Samuel Lucas Primary School?
98% of the 131 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Samuel Lucas Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Samuel Lucas Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put Samuel Lucas Primary School as their first choice for 59 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 56 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 117337.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.