SchoolScoresWilliam Ransom Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Stuart Drive, Hitchin, SG4 9QB
01462 624777 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 18 March 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
198 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 5th 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. | 97% | 96% | 89% |
| 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 8th 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% | 94% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 52 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 91% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 139 parents who had raised a concern Joint 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 86% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 87% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 40 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 94% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 78% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hitchin. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 93% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 47%). 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
60 pupils in this year group.
78% — 14 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 80% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 85% | 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. | 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 65 |
| Of those, offered a place | 60 (92%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 175 |
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 27th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 62% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 91% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 25.0 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 7th highest of 27 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 26 state primary schools in Hitchin. Higher than 60% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.5% | 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
- St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mary Exton Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitehill Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed, may be improving 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highbury Infant School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022
- Purwell Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highover Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Samuel Lucas Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Ippolyts CofE Aided Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wymondley Junior Mixed and Infant School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is William Ransom Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 18 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did William Ransom Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 16 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend William Ransom Primary School?
97% of the 198 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend William Ransom Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is William Ransom Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 65 families put William Ransom Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 60 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 117314.
- 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.