Highbury Infant School and Nursery
Standhill Road, Hitchin, SG4 9AGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Highbury Infant School and Nursery is a primary school in Hitchin for ages 3 to 7. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2013.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 20 June 2013, report published 11 July 2013
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 November 2022
Children and pupils at Highbury are animated, inquisitive, kind and very well behaved. They develop these characteristics because teaching is interesting and adults themselves model fairness, kindness and good manners. Children and pupils feel secure and are safe. The playground is a lively place, but everyone gets on. When disagreements occur, pupils often sort it out amicably among themselves but know that an adult is always on hand to help, if needed. 'Feel Good Friends' are also available if someone is feeling lonely or sad. Reading and mathematical skills develop very well. This starts in the Nursery and continues through to Year 2. Children and pupils learn a broad curriculum that meets all national requirements. However, in some wider subjects, expectations for the quality of pupils' work could be even more ambitious. Support for children and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a strength. Strong links exist with the nearby junior school, including shared staffing. This particularly helps pupils when they transition between Years 2 and 3. School leaders and staff have thought carefully about the impact of the pandemic on children's and pupils' lives. Strategies to help them catch up quickly have been implemented with care.
What the school should improve
- A new phonics scheme started in September 2022. Very occasionally, staff use materials that are not in line with the new scheme. Leaders should ensure that phonics teaching is completely consistent across the school so that pupils make even better progress in learning to decode words and become fluent readers.
- Although all subjects are planned thoroughly, in some areas teachers focus more on completion of the activity than they do on the quality of pupils' learning. Leaders should ensure that targeted continuing professional development is provided in the foundation subjects. This is so that staff have a better understanding of what makes for effective teaching and learning in these areas of the curriculum.
Pupil numbers and mix
195 pupils on roll, with places for 240
Schools near Highbury Infant School and Nursery
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehill Junior School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 68% met the expected standard |
| William Ransom Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 78% met the expected standard |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
| Samuel Lucas Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 75% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 7
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nancy Adshead
- Phone
- 01462630500
- Address
- Standhill Road, Hitchin, SG4 9AG
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117113
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.