SchoolScoresSwing Gate Infant School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2LJ
01442 863913 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 May 2012.
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 | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 December 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 | 44 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 37 |
| Of those, offered a place | 37 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 79 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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 8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.0% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.8% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Lower than 3% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 22% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.9 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 32% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.7 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Berkhamsted. Higher than 83% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 25.0% | 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
- The Thomas Coram CofE School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Victoria CofE Infant and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected
- St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Berkhamsted Prep and Pre-Prep School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Greenway Primary and Nursery School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bridgewater Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westfield Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- Potten End CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010), confirmed 2022 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Northchurch 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pixies Hill Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 May 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 December 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 37 families put Swing Gate Infant School and Nursery as their first choice for 44 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 37 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 117260.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.